or her house were like anything in Drumtochty, for
in it there was a buffet for dishes, and a carved chest and a large
chair, all of old black oak; and above the mantelpiece two broadswords
were crossed, with a circle of war medals beneath on a velvet ground,
flanked by two old pistols.

"I suppose those arms have belonged to your people, Mrs. Macpherson;
may I look at them?"

"They are not anything to be admiring, and it wass not manners that I
should hef been boasting of my men. It iss a pleasant evening and good
for walking."

"You were at the meeting, I think?" and Carmichael tried to get nearer
this iron woman. "We were sorry you had to go out before the end. Did
you not feel at home?"

"I will not be accustomed to the theatre, and I am not liking it
instead of the church."

"But surely there was nothing worse in my singing alone than praying
alone?" and Carmichael began to argue like a Scotsman, who always
fancies that people can be convinced by logic, and forgets that many
people, Celts in especial, are ruled by their heart and not by their
head; "do you see anything wrong in one praising God aloud in a hymn,
as the Virgin Mary did?"

"It iss the Virgin Mary you will be coming to next, no doubt, and the
Cross and the Mass, like the Catholics, although I am not saying
anything against them, for my mother's cousins four times removed were
Catholics, and fery good people. But I am a Presbyterian, and do not
want the Virgin Mary."

Carmichael learned at that moment what it was to argue with a woman,
and he was to make more discoveries in that department before he came
to terms with the sex, and would have left in despair had it not been
for an inspiration of his good angel.

"Well, Mrs. Macpherson, I did n't come to argue about hymns, but to bid
you welcome to the Glen and to ask for a glass of water, for preaching
is thirsty work."

"It iss black shame I am crying on myself for sitting here and offering
you neither meat nor drink," and she was stung with regret in an
instant. "It iss a little spirits you will be tasting, and this iss
Talisker which I will be keeping for a friend, for whisky iss not for
women."

She was full of attention, but when Carmichael took milk instead of
whisky, her suspicions revived, and she eyed him again.

"You are not one of those new people I am hearing of in the Lowlands
that are wiser than the fery Apostles?"

"What people?" and Carmichael trembled for his new po