wanted. It was
an almost complete delimitation of frontiers, and the Doctor used to
say that he never quite understood the Free Kirk theory of the relation
between Church and State till he considered the working agreement of
his two retainers. It was, he once pleasantly said to the minister of
Kildrummie, a perfect illustration of "co-ordinate jurisdiction with
mutual subordination." It is just possible that some one may not fully
grasp those impressive words, in which case let him appreciate other
people's accomplishments and mourn his ignorance, for they were common
speech in Drumtochty, and were taught at their porridge to the Free
Kirk children.

It is an unfortunate circumstance, however, that even a scientific
frontier wavers at places, and leaves a piece of doubtful territory
that may at any moment become a cause of war. Surely there is not on
the face of the Scottish earth a more unoffending, deferential,
conciliatory person than a "probationer," who on Saturdays can be seen
at every country junction, bag in hand, on his patient errand of
"supply," and yet it was over his timid body the great powers of the
manse twice quarrelled disastrously. As a guest in the manse, to be
received on Saturday evening, to be conducted to his room, to be fed
and warmed, to go to his bed at a proper hour--ten on Saturday and
ten-thirty on Sabbath--to be sent away on Monday morning in good time
for the train, he was within the province of Rebecca. As a minister to
be examined, advised, solemnised, encouraged, to be got ready on
Sabbath morning and again disrobed, to be edified with suitable
conversation and generally made as fit as possible for his work, he was
evidently within John's sphere of influence. It was certainly the
beadle's business to visit the dining-room on Saturday evening, where
the young man was supposed to be meditating against the ordeal of the
morrow, to get the Psalms for the precentor, to answer strictly
professional questions, and generally to advise the neophyte about the
sermon that would suit Drumtochty, and the kind of voice to be used.
One thing John knew perfectly well he ought not to do, and that was to
invite a probationer to spend the evening in the Doctor's study, for on
this point Rebecca was inexorable.

"A' dinna say that they wud read the Doctor's letters, an' a' dinna say
they wud tak a buke as a keepsake, but a' can never forget ane o'
them--he hed a squint and red hair--comin' oot f