doctrine; and,
for herself, concluded that, as she was well grounded for argument,
knowing thoroughly the Shorter Catechism with the proofs from scripture
of every doctrine it contained, it was foolish to fear anything from
one who went in the strength of his own ignorant and presumptuous will,
regardless of the opinions of the fathers of the church, and accepting
only such things as were pleasing to his unregenerate nature.

But she hesitated; and after waiting for a week without receiving any
answer to his proposal, Donal said to Davie,

"We shall have a lesson in the New Testament to-morrow: you had better
mention it to your cousin."

The next morning he asked him if he had mentioned it. The boy said he
had.

"What did she say, Davie?"

"Nothing--only looked strange," answered Davie.

When the hour of noon was past, and lady Arctura did not appear, Donal
said,

"Davie, we'll have our New Testament lesson out of doors: that is the
best place for it!"

"It is the best place!" responded Davie, jumping up. "But you're not
taking your book, Mr. Grant!"

"Never mind; I will give you a lesson or two without book first."

Just as they were leaving the room, appeared lady Arctura with Miss
Carmichael.

"I understood," said the former, with not a little haughtiness, "that
you--"

She hesitated, and Miss Carmichael took up the word.

"We wish to form our own judgment," she said, "on the nature of the
religious instruction you give your pupil."

"I invited lady Arctura to be present when I taught him about God,"
said Donal.

"Then are you not now going to do so?" said Arctura.

"As your ladyship made no answer to my proposal, and school hours were
over, I concluded you were not coming."

"And you would not give the lesson without her ladyship!" said Miss
Carmichael. "Very right!"

"Excuse me," returned Donal; "we were going to have it out of doors."

"But you had agreed not to give him any so-called religious instruction
but in the presence of lady Arctura!"

"By no means. I only offered to give it in her presence if she chose.
There was no question of the lessons being given."

Miss Carmichael looked at lady Arctura as much as to say--"Is he
speaking the truth?" and if she replied, it was in the same fashion.

Donal looked at Miss Carmichael. He did not at all relish her
interference. He had never said he would give his lesson before any
who chose to be present! But he did not see how to meet