"'But I think it is time he was,' quoth she, 'before ye trust him ony farther. Remember that ye have men's wages to pay, and accounts to pay, and a wife and family to support, and those things canna be done upon nothing.' "'Very true, dearie,' said I; 'but ye wouldna have me to speak abruptly to the gentleman, or to affront him?' "'It will affront no gentleman,' replied she--'at least, no honest man--to ask him for what is your own. Therefore, ask him for your money. Remember, Nicholas, that the simple man is the beggar's brother.' "'O dear, woman!' says I, 'ye ken I dinna like to hear thae words. I'll ask the gentleman to pay me--to be sure I will; and what is the use o' your keeping tease, teasing at a body, just as if I were a simpleton.' "So I slipped back to the customer, and, after a few words about his order, I said to him--'Sir, ye understand I have men's wages to pay, and accounts to pay, and a wife and family to support, and it's no little that does it; therefore, if ye could just oblige me wi' the settlement o' your account, it would be a favour.' "'My dear Mr Middlemiss,' said he, 'I am extremely sorry that you did not inform me that you were in want of cash sooner, as I have just, before I saw you, parted with all I can spare. But, if you be very much in want of it, I can give you a note, that is, a bill for the money, at three or six months. You can get it cashed, you know, and it is only minus the discount, and that is not much upon your profits, eh?' "'Begging your pardon, sir,' says I, 'but I take I would have my name to write on the back o't.' "'Certainly, sir,' said he, 'you know that follows as a matter of course.' "'Yes, sir,' continued I, 'and I have found that it sometimes follows also as a matter o' _coercion!_ I never had to do wi' what ye call a bill in my life but once, which was merely writing my name upon the back o't, and that cost me three hundred pounds--exactly sixteen pounds, two shillings and threepence, and a fraction, for every letter in the name of Nicholas Middlemiss, as my wife has often told me. Therefore, sir, I would never wish to see the _face_ o' a bill again; or, I should say, the _back_ o' one.' "'But, my good sir,' said the gentleman, 'I have told you that it is not convenient for me to give you the cash just now; and, if you won't take my bill, why, what do you wish me to do? Do you intend to affront me? Do you suppose I have nothing to attend to but your account?' "'Oh, by no means, sir,' said I; 'and it would be the last thing in my thoughts either to offend you or ony man. If ye have not the money at command, I suppose I must take the bill; for I know that cash down is a sort o' curiosity, as I sometimes say, and is very difficult to be met wi'.'