Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER III. PREPARING TO RECEIVE COMPANY. Leeby was at the fire brandering a quarter of steak on the tongs, when the house was flung into consternation by Hendry's casual remark that he had seen Tibbie Mealmaker in the town with her man. " The Lord preserve's !" cried Leeby. Jess looked quickly at the clock. "Halffower!" she said excitedly. " Then it canna be dune," said Leeby, falling despairingly into a chair, " for they may be here ony meenute." " It's most michty," said Jess, turning on her husband, " 'at ye should tak a pleasure in bringin' this hoose to disgrace. Hoo did ye no tell's suner?" " I fair forgot," Hendry answered, " but what's a' yer steer ?" Jess looked at me (she often did this) in a way that meant, " What a man is this I'm tied to!" "Steer!" she exclaimed. " Is't no time we was makkin' a steer ? They'll be in for their tea ony meenute, an' the room no sae muckle as sweepit . Ay, an' me lookin' like a sweep ; an' Tibbie Mealmakcr 'at's sae partikler genteel seein' you sic a sicht as ye are!" Jess shook Hendry out of his chair, while Leeby began to sweep with the one hand, and agitatedly to unbutton her wrapper with the other. " She didna see me," said Hendry, sitting down forlornly on the table. Get aff that table!" cried Jess. " See haud o' the besom," she said to Leeby. " For mercy's sake, mother," said Leeby, " gie yer face a dicht, an' put on a clean mutch." " I'll open the door if they come afore you're ready," said Hendry, as Leeby pushed him against the dresser. " Ye daur to speak aboot openin' the door, an'you sic a mess!" cried Jess, with pins in her mouth. " Havers!" retorted Hendry. " A man canna be aye washin' at 'imsel." Seeing that Hendry was as much in the way as myself, I invited him upstai...