That Whippety Stourie is my name."

The lady walked into the cave, and was kindly asked by the wee bodies to
take a chair and sit down, while they still continued their spinning. She
observed that ilk ane's mouth was thrawn away to ae side, but she didna
venture to speer the reason. They asked why she looked so unhappy, and
she telt them that it was she was expected by her husband to be a good
spinner, when the plain truth was that she could not spin at all, and
found herself quite unable for it, having been so delicately brought up;
neither was there any need for it, as her husband was a rich man.

"Oh, is that a'?" said the little wifies, speaking out of their cheeks
alike.

"Yes, and is it not a very good a' too?" said the lady, her heart like to
burst wi' distress.

"We could easily quit ye o' that trouble," said the wee women. "Just ask
us a' to dinner for the day when your husband is to come back. We'll
then let you see how we'll manage him."

So the lady asked them all to dine with herself and her husband, on the
day when he was to come back.

When the gudeman came hame, he found the house so occupied with
preparations for dinner, that he had nae time to ask his wife about her
thread; and, before ever he had ance spoken to her on the subject, the
company was announced at the hall door. The six ladies all came in a
coach-and-six, and were as fine as princesses, but still wore their gowns
of green. The gentleman was very polite, and showed them up the stair