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We bought our first groceries of Mrs.Robert Phin, of Strathdee, simply because she is an inimitable conversationalist.

She is expansive, too, about family matters, and tells us certain of her 'mon's' faults which it would be more seemly to keep in the safe shelter of her own bosom.
Rab takes a wee drappie too much, it appears, and takes it so often that he has little time to earn an honest penny for his family.

This is bad enough; but the fact that Mrs.Phin has been twice wed before, and that in each case she innocently chose a ne'er-do-weel for a mate, makes her a trifle cynical.

She told me that she had laid twa husbands in the kirk-yard near which her little shop stands, and added cheerfully, as I made some sympathetic response, 'An' I hope it'll no' be lang afore I box Rab!' Salemina objects to the shop because it is so disorderly.

Soap and sugar, tea and bloaters, starch and gingham, lead pencils and sausages, lie side by side cosily.