I couldna help wonderin' about the bairns; where was their mither?
Hoo came it they were here wi' the auld folks?
Aweel, it was not my affairs.
"They're fine bairns, yon," I said, for the sake of saying something.
"Oh, aye, gude enow," said the auld man.

I noticed his gude wife was greetin' a bit; she wiped her een wi' the corner of her apron.

I thocht I'd go for a bit walk; I had no mind to be preying into the business o' the hoose.

So I did.

But that nicht, after the bairns were safe in bed and sound asleep, we all sat aboot the kitchen fire.