endent with paint
and gilding. It was covered with advertisements of its contents
executed in the highest style of art. The Kirk in the Vennel felt the
reflected glory, and promptly elected him an elder. A man _must_ be a
good man to come so regularly to ordinances and own such a van. The wife
of this magnificent member of society was, like the female of so many of
the lower animals, of modest mien and a retiring plumage. She sat much
in the back parlour; and even when she came out, she crept along in the
shadow of the houses.

"Na," said Jess Kissock of the Bow Head, "it's no' a licht thing to be
wife to sic a man"--which, indeed, it assuredly was not. Mrs. Fergus
Teeman could have given some evidence on that subject, but she only hid
her secrets under the shabby breast of her stuff gown.

There was said to be a daughter at a boarding-school employed in
"finishing," whatever that might be. There were also various boys like
steps in an uneven stair, models of all the virtues under their father's
eye, and perfect demons on the street--that is, on the streets of Port
Ryan which were not glared upon by the omniscient plate-glass of
Teeman's Emporium.

There was no minister in the Kirk in the Vennel when Fergus Teeman came
to Port Ryan. The last one had got another kirk after fifteen years'
service, thirteen of which he had spent in fishing for just such a call
as he got, being heartily tired of the miserable ways of his
congregation. When he received the invitation, he waited a week before
he thought it would be decent to say, that perhaps he might have
seriously to consider whether this were not a direct leading of
Providence. On the following Thursday he accepted. On the Monday he left
Port Ryan for ever, directing his meagre properties to be sent after
him. He shook his fist at the town as the train moved out.

So Fergus Teeman was just in time to come in for the new election,
which seemed like a favouritism of Providence to a new man--for, of
course, he was put on the committee which was to choose the candidates.
Then there was a great preaching. All the candidates stopped with Mr.
Teeman. This suited the Kirk in the Vennel, for it was a saving in
expense. It also suited Fergus Teeman, for it allowed him to sound them
on all the subjects which interested him. And, as he said, the expense
was really a mere trifle, so long as one did not give them ham and eggs
for their breakfast. It is not good to preach on ham and