t my will."

"It is so," said Aaron, in the same measured voice, "and it's right
that it should be so. A man may thieve or debauch or murder, and yet no
be so very different frae his fellow-men, but there's one thing he shall
not do without their wanting to spit him out o' their mouths, and that
is, violate the feelings of sex."

The strange words in which the warper described his fall had always an
uncomfortable effect on those who heard him use them, and Auchterlonie
could only answer in distress, "Maybe that's what it is."

"That's what it is. I have had twal lang years sitting on this box to
think it out. I blame none but mysel'."

"Then you'll have pity on Jean in her sair need," said the smith. He
read slowly the first part of the letter, but Aaron made no comment, and
the mill had not stopped for a moment.

"She says," the smith proceeded, doggedly--"she says to say to you,
'Aaron Latta, do you mind yon day at Inverquharity and the cushie
doos?'"

Only the monotonous whirr of the mill replied.

"She says, 'Aaron Latta, do you mind that Jean Myles was ower heavy for
you to lift? Oh, Aaron, you could lift me so pitiful easy now.'"

Another thread broke and the warper rose with sudden fury.

"Now that you've eased your conscience, smith," he said, fiercely, "make
your feet your friend."

"I'll do so," Auchterlonie answered, laying the letter on the webs, "but
I leave this ahint me."

"Wap it in the fire."

"If that's to be done, you do it yoursel'. Aaron, she treated you ill,
but--"

"There's the door, smith."

The smith walked away, and had only gone a few steps when he heard the
whirr of the mill again. He went back to the door.

"She's dying, man!" he cried.

"Let her die!" answered Aaron.

In an hour the sensational news was through half of Thrums, of which
Monypenny may be regarded as a broken piece, left behind, like the dot
of quicksilver in the tube, to show how high the town once rose. Some
could only rejoice at first in the down-come of Jean Myles, but most
blamed the smith (and himself among them) for not taking note of her
address, so that Thrums Street could be informed of it and sent to her
relief. For Blinder alone believed that Aaron would be softened.

"It was twa threads the smith saw him break," the blind man said, "and
Aaron's good at his work. He'll go to London, I tell you."

"You forget, Blinders, that he was warping afore I was a dozen steps
frae the door."

"Ay, an