CHAP. x.J HOW TO BUY AND SELL FISH. 427 



gives rise to the well-known Scottish reproach of *' D'ye tak' me 

 for a fishwife ?" The style of bargain-making carried on by 

 the fishwives may be illustrated by the following little scene : 



A servant girl having just beckoned to one of them is 

 answered by the usual interrogatory, " What's yer wull the 

 day, my bonnie lass?" and the "mistress" being introduced, 

 the following conversation takes place : 



" Come awa, mem, an' see what bonriie fish I hae the day." 



" Have you any haddocks ?" 



" Ay hae I, mem, an' as bonnie fish as ever ye clappit yer 

 twa een on." 



" What's the price of these four small ones ?" 



" What's yer wull, mem ?" 



" I wish these small ones." 



" What d'ye say, mem? sma' haddies ! they's no sma' fish, 

 an they're the bonniest I hae in a' ma creel." 



"Well, never mind, what do you ask for them ?" 



" Weel, mem, its been awfu' wather o' late, an' the men 

 canna get fish ; yell no grudge me twentypence for thae 

 four?" 



" Twentypence ! " 



" Ay, mem, what for no ?" 



" They are too dear, I'll give " 



" What d'ye say, mem ? ower dear ! I wish ye kent it : but 

 what'll ye gie me for thae four?" 



" I'll give you a sixpence." 



Ye'll gie me a what ?" 



" A sixpence." 



" I daur say ye wull, ma bonny leddy, but ye'll no get 

 thae four fish for twa sixpences this day." 



" 111 not give more." 



" Weel, mem, gude day" (making preparations to go) ; 

 " 111 tak' eighteenpence an' be dune wi't." 



" No ; 111 give you twopence each for them." 



