resbytery, asking the men up
by turns on fast-days, and sending them home speechless with
satisfaction."

"Sarah was always a clever woman; if she had only--" But Carmichael
heard not, in his boyish excitement of householding.

"Clever is a cold word for such genius. Mark my words, there is not a
manse in Perthshire that shall not sound with the praise of Sarah. I
vow perpetual celibacy on the spot. No man would dream of marrying
that had the privilege of such a housekeeper."

"Ye 're a silly laddie, John; but some day a fair face will change a'
yer life, an' if she be a good wumman like your mother, I 'll thank
God."

"No woman can be compared with her," and the minister sobered. "You
and she have spoiled me for other women, and now you have placed me
beyond temptation with such a cook."

So it came to pass that Carmichael, who knew nothing about fine cooking
till Sarah formed his palate with her cunning sauces, and, after all,
cared as little what he ate as any other healthy young man, boasted of
his housekeeper continually by skilful allusions, till the honest wives
of his fathers and brethren were outraged and grew feline, as any
natural woman will if a servant is flung in her face in this
aggravating fashion.

"I 'm glad to hear you 're so well pleased, Mr. Carmichael," Mrs.
MacGuffie would say, who was full of advice, and fed visitors on the
produce of her garden, "but no man knows comfort till he marries. It's
a chop one day and a steak the next all the year round--nothing tasty
or appetising; and as for his shirts, most bachelors have to sew on
their own buttons. Ah, you all pretend to be comfortable, but I know
better, for Mr. MacGuffie has often told me what he suffered."

Whereat Carmichael would rage furiously, and then, catching sight of
MacGuffie, would bethink him of a Christian revenge. MacGuffie was
invited up to a day of humiliation--Sarah receiving for once _carte
blanche_--and after he had powerfully exhorted the people from the
words, "I am become like a bottle in the smoke," he was conducted to
the manse in an appropriately mournful condition, and set down at the
table. He was inclined to dwell on the decadence of Disruption
principles during soup, but as the dinner advanced grew wonderfully
cheerful, and being installed in an arm-chair with a cup of decent
coffee beside him, sighed peacefully, and said, "Mr. Carmichael, you
have much cause for thankfulness." Mr. MacGuffie had no