"Now, Nanse," quo' I, "to come to close quarters with ye, tell me candidly and seriously what ye think of a barber?
Every one must allow it's a canny and cozy trade." "A barber that shaves beards!" said Nanse.

"'Od, Mansie, ye're surely gaun gyte.

Ye're surely joking me all the time ?" "Joking!" answered I, smoothing down my chin, which was gey an' rough--"Joking here or joking there, I should not think the settling of an only bairn in an honourable way of doing for all the days of his natural life, is any joking business.

Ye dinna ken what ye're saying, woman.

Barbers! i'fegs, to turn up your nose at barbers! did ever living hear such nonsense! But to be sure, one can blame nobody if they speak to the best of their experience.