Why, you see, sir, the times are bad, and I am no speculator. I have a wife and family, and a man with a wife and family must be just before he is generous. Besides, my two youngest children have just had the hooping-cough, and they must have a little country air: all these things are expensive. I appeal to your feelings, sir, whether you would drive a hard bargain with a man in my situation?

Hundreds were asprawl the open space between the Cross and the kirkyard.

a stark, moss-trooping Scot

To polish, expolish, paint, and staine