said John Gib, leaping up in the air and clapping his hands
together as if he would again begin the dance, which, accompanied by a
horrid yowling like that of a beaten dog, they called Sweet Singing.

"'Ay, that I have! Out upon you, Anton Lennox, that set up for a man of
God and a reprover of others. I alone am pure, and God dwells in me. I
lift up my testimony against all the months of the year, for their names
are heathen. I alone testify against January and February; against
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday; against Martinmas and holidays, against
Lammas-day, Whitsun-day, Candle-mas, Beltan, stone crosses, saints'
images, Kelton Hill Fair and Stonykirk Sacrament. Against Yule and
Christmas, old wife's fables, Palm Sunday, Carlin Sunday, Pasch, Hallow,
and Hogmanay; against the cracking of nits and the singing of sangs;
again all romances and story-buiks; against Handsel Monday, kirks,
kirkyairds and ministers, and specially against cock-ups in the front o'
the Sabbath bonnets o' ministers' wives; against registers, lawyers and
all lawbooks----'

"He cried out this rigmarole at the top of his voice, speaking
trippingly by rote as one that says his lesson in school and has learned
it often and well. He rolled his eyes as he recited, and all the women
clapped their hands and made a kind of moaning howl like a dog when it
bays the moon.

"'Yea, Yea, and Amen!' they cried after him, like children singing in
chorus.

"'Peace, devil's brats all!' cried Anton Lennox, like a tower above
them.

"And they hushed at his word, for he stood over them all, like one
greater than man, till even Muckle John Gib seemed puny beside the old
man.

"'David Jamie, hearken to me, you that has your hand on your bit
shable.[5] Better put up your feckless iron spit. It will do you no
good. You are a good scholar lost, and a decent minister spoiled. I
wonder at you--a lad of some lear--companying with this hairy-throated,
tarry-fisted deceiver.'

[Footnote 5: Short sword.]

"This David Jamie was a young limber lad, who looked paler and more
delicate than the others. What brought him into the company of mad men
and misguided women, it is perhaps better only guessing.

"He looked sufficiently ashamed now at all events.

"'Walter Ker and John Young, hearken ye to me; I have more hope of you.
You are but thoughtless, ignorant, land-ward men, and the Lord may be
pleased to reclaim you from this dangerous and horrible delusion.'

"Anton Le