the designs of
Saunders and Mr. Calvin.

Little else was done that day. A clerk of school-board was
appointed--the lawyer factor of the Laird of Howpaslet and a strong
member of the State Church.

Mr. Calvin proposed the young Radical lawyer from the next town, but
simply for form's sake, and to lull the other side with the semblance of
victory.

"The clerk has nae vote," Saunders explained quietly through the window
to the nearest Ker. This satisfied the clan, which was a little inclined
to murmur.

It was then decided that a new teacher was to be appointed, and
applications were to be advertised for. This was really the crux of the
situation. The old parochial dominie had retired on a comfortable
allowance. The company inside the school wanted him to get the allowance
doubled, because he was precentor in the parish kirk, till they heard
that it was to come out of the rates. Then they wanted him to have none
at all. He should just have saved his siller like other folk. Who would
propose to support them with forty-five pounds a year off the rates when
they came to retire?--a fresh strong man, too, and well able for his
meat, and said to be looking out for his third wife. The idea of giving
him forty-five of their pounds to do nothing at all the rest of his
life was a preposterous one. Some said they would have voted for the
Seceders if they had known what the minister had in his head. But, in
spite of the murmurs, the dominie got the money.

The next meeting was to be held on Tuesday fortnight--public intimation
whereof having been made, the meeting was closed with the benediction,
pronounced by Dr. Hutchison in a non-committal official way to show the
Kers that he was not to be coerced into prayer by them.

Applications for the mastership poured in thick and fast. The members of
the school-board were appealed to by letter and by private influence.
They were treated at the market and buttonholed on the street--all
except Saunders and his minister. These two kept their counsel sternly
to themselves, knowing that they had no chance of carrying their man
unless some mysterious providence should intervene.

Providence did intervene, and that manifestly, only three days before
the meeting. After Sabbath service in the parish church, the Reverend
Doctor Hutchison went home to the manse complaining of a violent pain in
his breast.

His daughter promptly put on mustard, and sent for the doctor. By so
doing she proba