spirit and the boys there was an undying
feud, and Carmichael was not at all hurt to hear her frank references
to himself.

[Illustration: A tall, bony, forbidding woman.]

"What need he come stravagin' doon frae Drumtochty for? it wud set him
better tae wait on his ain fouk. A licht-headed fellow, they say as
kens; an' as for his doctrine--weel, maybe it 'll dae for Drumtochty.

"Tea? Did ye expect me tae hae biling water at this 'oor o' the nicht?
My word, the money wud flee in this hoose gin a' wesna here. Milk 'll
dae fine for yon birkie: he micht be gled tae get onything, sorning on
a respectable manse every ither week."

"You will pardon our humble provision"--this is how the Rabbi prepared
Carmichael; "we have taken my worthy Abigail unawares, and she cannot
do for us what in other circumstances would be her desire. She has a
thorn in the flesh which troubles her, and makes her do what she would
not; but I am convinced that her heart is right."

That uncompromising woman took no notice of Drumtochty, but busied
herself in a search for the Rabbi's bag, which he insisted had been
brought home from Muirtown that morning, and which was at last found
covered with books.

"Do not open it at present, Barbara; you can identify the contents
later if it be necessary, but I am sure they are all right," and the
Rabbi watched Barbara's investigations with evident anxiety.

"Maybe ye hae brocht back what ye started wi', but gin ye hev, it's the
first time a' can mind. Laist sacrament at Edinburgh ye pickit up twal
books, ae clothes brush, an' a crochet cover for a chair, an' left
a'thing that belonged tae ye."

"It was an inadvertence; but I obtained a drawer for my own use this
time, and I was careful to pack its contents into the bag, leaving
nothing." But the Rabbi did not seem over-confident.

"There 's nae question that ye hev filled the pack," said Barbara, with
much deliberation and an ominous calmness; "but whether wi' yir ain
gear or some ither body's, a'll leave ye tae judge yirsel'. A 'll
juist empty the bag on the bukes;" and Barbara selected a bank of
Puritans for the display of her master's spoil.

"Ae slipbody (bodice), well hemmed and gude stuff--ye didna tak' that
wi' ye, at ony rate; twa pillow slips--they 'll come in handy, oor ain
are wearin' thin; ae pair o' sheets--'ll juist dae for the next trimmie
that ye want tae set up in her hoose; this 'll be a bolster slip, a 'm
judgin'--"

"It