Julia Duffy, a big muscular Irish girl, caught Mr. Egerton round the
neck in a strangling grasp, and when she discovered whom she was
embracing, she shrieked in horrified dismay, "Murderin' blazes! If it
ain't the preacher!"

The crowd went off into roars of laughter, none joining so heartily as
the minister himself, who was compelled to lean against the wall for
support, and wipe the tears from his eyes.

"Shades of Mr. McAlpine!" said Donald Neil to his chum, as he found
himself driven into a corner, "he's up-to-date and no mistake!"

"The Oa'll rear up on its hind legs when it hears," whispered Wee Andra
with a broad grin. "There's no flies on him, though, I can tell you.
I do like to see a minister actin' like a human being!"

Donald made no reply. He had been brought up under Duncan Polite's
influence and was not quite prepared to agree with his friend.

Supper was announced at this moment. Jessie and Bella had slipped away
some time before to assist in its preparation, for as soon as the
minister had left the dining room Mrs. Hamilton had proceeded to bring
up all her culinary triumphs of the morning and spread them out in
magnificent array. Eliza Cotton, who assisted the girls to lay the
table, gave up exclaiming at last, and resolved she would make Mrs.
Fraser just green with envy telling her about it. For, of course, if
one didn't do one's best at a visit from the minister, what possible
combination of circumstances could call it forth?

The young man for whom the feast had been prepared was properly amazed
as he took his seat at the long table, crowded with glass and gaily
decorated with china and huge bouquets of tulips, and loaded with cakes
and pies and tarts and jellies and cold meats and great heaps of snowy
bread and great cups of creamy tea.

The schoolmaster sat next him and gave him his ideas upon the
practicability of the Canadian Pacific Railway, and Mrs. Hamilton on
the other side heaped his plate at short intervals, without stopping to
ask permission. There was a great deal of noise and laughter at the
other end of the table, for Maggie and Wee Andra and Sandy Neil were
there. The guest did not fail to notice that Jessie was quieter than
her sisters; her big eyes had a thoughtful expression. He caught
himself wondering, more than once, what sort of girl she was; surely a
person with a face like that could not be anything but perfect.

Mr. Hamilton sat at the head of the table, bea