ew
to the grass as one justly punished.

This excellent woman once accomplished her will, however, in spite of
John, and had all her days the pleasant relish of a secret triumph.
Her one unfulfilled desire was to see the Doctor in his court dress
which he wore as Moderator of the Kirk of Scotland during the Assembly
time, and which had lain ever since in a box with camphor and such
preservatives amid the folds. It was aggravating to hear Drumsheugh
and Hillocks--who had both gone to the Assembly that year for the sole
purpose of watching the Doctor enter and bow to the standing
house--enlarging on his glory in velvet and lace and silver buckles,
and growing in enthusiasm with the years.

"It's little better than a sin," she used to insist, "tae see the
bonnie suit gien the Doctor by the Countess o' Kilspindie, wi' dear
knows hoo much o' her ain auld lace on 't, lyin' useless, wi' naebody
tae get a sicht o't on his back. Dinna ye think, man"--this with much
persuasiveness--"that ye cud get the Doctor tae pit on his velvets on
an occasion, maybe a Saicrament? The pairish wud be lifted; an' ye wud
look weel walkin' afore him in his lace."

"Dinna plead wi' me, wumman; a' wud gie a half-year's wages tae see him
in his grandeur; but it 's offeecial, div ye no see, an' canna be used
except by a Moderator. Na, na, ye can dust and stroke it, but ye 'll
never see yon coat on the Doctor."

This was little less than a challenge to a woman of spirit, and Rebecca
simply lived from that day to clothe the Doctor in embroidered
garments. Her opportunity arrived when Kate's birthday came round, and
the Doctor insisted on celebrating it by a party of four. By the
merest accident his housekeeper met Miss Carnegie on the road, and
somehow happened to describe the excellent glory of the Doctor's full
dress, whereupon that wilful young woman went straight to the manse,
nor left till the Doctor had promised to dine in ruffles, in which case
she pledged herself that the General would come in uniform, and she
would wear the family jewels, so that everything would be worthy of the
Doctor's dinner.

"Hoo daur ye," began John, coming down from the Doctor's room, where
the suit was spread upon the bed; but his wife did not allow him to
continue, explaining that the thing was none of her doing, and that it
was only becoming that honour should be shown to Miss Carnegie when she
dined for the first time at the manse of Drumtochty.