And Finally I put down the last and the best advice I knew, on growing older. 'Stand up straight and try not to get fat.

Men would eat horse droppings, if ye served them wi' butter.

I know why the Jews and Muslims have nine hundred names for God; one small word is not enough for love.

If I die," he whispered in the dark, "dinna follow me. The bairns will need ye. Stay for them. I can wait.

A general cry of "What book? What book? Let us see this famous book!

I thought I could make out Jamie's Highland screech, but that was likely imagination; they all sounded equally demented.

I had one last try. "Does it bother you that I'm not a virgin?" He hesitated a moment before answering. "Well, no," he said slowly, "so long as it doesna bother you that I am." He grinned at my drop-jawed expression, and backed toward the door. "Reckon one of us should know what they're doing," he said. The door closed softly behind him; clearly the courtship was over.