"While we were conversing thegither, I heard my wife gie a tap, tap, tap, twice or thrice upon the parlour door, and I was convinced that she owreheard us; but I didna take the least notice o' it, for I felt conscious that it would only be to ring the auld sang in my ears, about the simple man. So I took the gentleman's bill at six months; and immediately after he left me, Nancy came into the parlour. "'Weel,' said she, 'ye've gotten your money.' But she said it wi' a scornful air, such as I had never seen her use before, and which caused me to feel excessively uncomfortable. "'Yes, I've got my money,' says I, 'but, dear me, Nancy, what business is it o' yours whether I have got my money or no?' "'If it isna my business, Nicholas,' said she, 'I would like to ken whase business it is? I am the wife o' your bosom--the mother o' your family--am I not? Guidman, ye may take ill what I say to ye, but it is meant for your good. Now, ye hae ta'en the bill o' the man that has just left ye, for four hundred and odd pounds! What do ye ken aboot him? Naething!--naething in the blessed world! Ye are a simple man, Nicholas!' "'Dinna say that,' said I; 'I am not simple. I told him to his face that I didna like his bills. But ye are like a' women--ye would do wonders if ye were men! But his bill prevents a' disputes about his account--do ye not see that--and I can cash it if I wish.' "'Very true,' said she, 'ye can cash it, Nicholas, but upon your own credit, and at your own risk.' "'Risk!' said I, 'the woman's a fool to talk in such a manner about an every-day transaction.' "'Weel,' answered she, 'not to say that there is the slightest risk in the matter, have ye considered, that, if ye do cash this bill, there will be a heavy discount to pay, and if ye pay it, what is to become o' your profits? Did ye tell him, that if ye took his bill ye would carry the discount to his next account?' "'O Nancy! Nancy!' cried I, 'ye would skin the wind! Just take yoursel' away, if ye please; for really ye're tormenting me--making a perfect gowk o' me, for neither end nor purpose.' "'Oh, if that be the way,' said she, 'I can leave ye--but I have seen the day when ye thought otherwise o' my company. Yet, the more I see o' your transactions, Nicholas, the more I am convinced in the truth o' the saying, that the simple man is the beggar's brother.' "'Sorrow take ye, wife!' cried I, 'will ye really come owre thae words again. Are ye not aware that I detest and abhor them? Have I not said that to ye again and again?--and yet ye will repeat them in my hearing? Do ye wish to drive me mad?' "'I would wish to see ye act,' answered she, 'so that I would ne'er need to use them again.' And, on saying that, she went out o' the room, which to me was a great deliverance.