he
women and children proceeded to their places on arrival, and the
fathers followed them as the bell gave signs of ceasing. Drumsheugh
and Domsie then came in from the plate and the administration of
discipline, and the parish waited as one man for the appearance of John
with the Bible, the Doctor following, and envied those whose seat
commanded the walk from the manse down which the procession came every
Sabbath with dignity, but once a year with an altogether peculiar
majesty.

Drumtochty exiles meeting in London or other foreign places and
recalling the Glen, never part without lighting on John and passing
contempt on all officials beside him. "Ye mind John?" one will say,
wagging his head with an amazement that time and distance has in no
wise cooled, and his fellow glensman will reply, "Ay, ye may traivel
the warld ower or ye see his marrow." Then they will fall into a
thoughtful silence, and each knows that his neighbour is following John
as he comes down the kirkyard on the great day. "Comin' in at the door
lookin' as if he didna ken there wes a body in the kirk, a' aye coontit
best," but his friend has another preference. "It wes fine, but, man,
tae see him set the bukes doon on the pulpit cushion, and then juist
gie ae glisk roond the kirk as much as tae say, 'What think ye o'
that?' cowed a' thing." It has been given to myself amid other
privileges to see (and store in a fond memory) the walk of a University
mace-bearer, a piper at the Highland gathering, a German stationmaster
(after the war), and an alderman (of the old school), but it is bare
justice to admit, although I am not of Drumtochty, but only as a
proselyte of the gate, that none of those efforts is at all to be
compared with John's achievement. Within the manse the Doctor was
waiting in pulpit array, grasping his father's snuff-box in a firm
right hand, and it was understood that, none seeing them, and as a
preparation for the strain that would immediately be upon them, both
the minister and his man relaxed for a minute.

"Is there a respectable attendance, John?" and the Doctor would take a
preliminary pinch. "Drumsheugh does not expect many absentees."

"Naebody 's missin' that a' cud see, sir, except that ill gettit
wratch, Tammie Ronaldson, and a' coont him past redemption. A' gaed in
as a' cam doon, and gin he wesna lyin' in his bed sleepin' an' snorin'
like a heathen."

"Well, John, did you do your duty as an officer of the ch