Many's the man has had me for an explanation of why he was sae late.

I'm sorry if I've made trouble t'wixt man and wife, but I'm flattered, too, and I may as well admit it! Ye can guess hoo Mac took that story.

I was sae unwise as tae tell it to him, and he told it to everyone else, and was always threatening me with Kirsty Lamont.

He pretended that some one had pointed her oot to him, so that he knew her by sicht, and he wad say that he saw her in the audience.

And sometimes he'd peep oot the stage door and say he saw her waiting for me.
And, the de'il! He worked up a great time with the wife, tellin' aboot this Kirsty Lamont that was so eager to see me, till Nance was jealous, almost, and I had to tell her the whole yarn before she'd forgie me! Heard ye ever the like o' such foolishness?
But that was Mac's way.