expect," said Mrs Nasmyth,
unconsciously imitating Mr Spears' tone and manner in her rising wrath.
"I'm very much obliged to you, but we're in no especial need o' sugar
at this time, and we'll do without a while before we spend good siller
on staff like that."

"Well I'll say eleven cents, or maybe ten, as sugarin' time is 'most
here. It _ain't_ first-rate," he added, candidly. "It mightn't just do
for tea, but it's as good as any to sweeten pies and cakes."

"Many thanks to you. But we're no' given to the makin' o' pies and
cakes in this house. Plain bread, or a sup porridge and milk does for
us, and it's mair than we're like to get, if things dinna mend with us.
So you'll just take it with you again."

"Well," said Mr Spears, slightly at a loss, "I guess I'll leave it. I
ain't particular about the price. Mr Elliott can allow me what he
thinks it worth, come to use it. I'll leave it anyhow."

"But you'll no' leave it with my consent. Deacon Slowcome said the
minister wasna needing to take anything he didna want, and the like o'
that we could make no use of."

"The deacon might have said that in a general kind of way, but I rather
guess he didn't mean you to take him up so. I've been calculating to
pay my minister's tax with that sugar, and I don't know as I've got
anything else handy. I'll leave it, and if you don't conclude to keep
it, you better speak to the deacon about it, and maybe he'll give you
the money for it. I'll leave it anyhow."

"But you'll no leave it here," exclaimed Mrs Nasmyth, whose patience
was not proof against his persistence, and seizing the bucket, she
rushed out at the door, and depositing it in the sleigh, was in again
before the astonished Mr Spears quite realised her intention.

"You'll no' find me failing in my duty to the minister, as I hae done
before," exclaimed she, a little breathless with the exertion. "If the
minister canna hae his stipend paid in good siller as he has been used
wi', he shall at least hae nae trash like yon. So dinna bring here
again what ither folk winna hae from you, for I'll hae none o' it."

"I should like to see the minister a minute," said Mr Spears, seating
himself with dignity. "I don't consider that you are the one to settle
this business."

"There's many a thing that you dinna consider that there's sense in,
notwithstanding. It's just me that is to decide this business, and a'
business where the minister's welfare, as regards meat