ws that brought it. He had been down at the smiddy getting
the horses shod; and Mr. Marchbanks, the minister, handed it to him
himself as he was passing the manse on his way home. The herd said that
it was "bound to be something pressing, or the minister wadna hae been
so soon oot o' his bed." So he waited till I had opened it to hear what
it was about, for the wife of Hanging Shaws would be sure to be asking.
I read it to him, but he did not seem to be much the wiser. Here is the
letter, written in an ill, crabbed hand-of-write, like all ministers'
writings:--

"_Nether Dullarg_.

"DEAR MR. M'QUHIRR,--_I made strict inquiry subsequent to my return
from your hospitable dwelling last evening regarding the slight
accident which happened to my son, Archibald, whilst I was engaged
in suitable converse with your like-minded partner. I am of opinion
that there is no necessity for proceeding to extreme measures in
the case of your son, Alexander--as in my first natural
indignation, I urged somewhat strongly upon your good wife. It may
not ultimately be for the worse, that the lads were allowed to
settle their own differences without the intervention of their
parents. I may say, in conclusion, that the application of a
portion of uncooked beef to the protuberance has considerably
reduced the swelling upon my son's nose during the night. I intend
(D.V.) to resume the visitation of my congregation on Thursday
next, unaccompanied either by my own son or yours.--Believe me,
dear sir, to remain your most obedient servant_,

_July 3rd_.

"JOHN MARCHBANKS."

Now, Mr. Marchbanks is not my own minister, but there is not a better
respected man in the countryside, nor one whom I would less allow any
one belonging to me to make light of. So it behoved me to make inquiry.
Of the letter itself I could make neither head nor tail; but two things
were clear--that that loon of a boy, my son Alec, was in it, and also
that his mother was "accessory after the fact," as the Kirkcudbright
lawyers say. In the latter case it was necessary to act with
circumspection. In the other case I should probably have acted instantly
with a suitable hazel rod.

I went into the house. "Where's Alec?" I asked, maybe a kenning sharper
than ordinary.

"What may ye be wantin' wi' Alec?" said my wife, with a sting in her
accent which showed that she was deep in the ploy, w