'm sorry for Hay."

CHAPTER XXIV.

LOVE IS LORD.

It could not be said with a steady face that the proceedings of the
Free Kirk Presbytery of Muirtown increased the gaiety of nations, and
there might be persons--far left to themselves, of course--who would
describe its members as wearisome ecclesiastics. Carmichael himself,
in a mood of gay irresponsibility, had once sketched a meeting of this
reverend court, in which the names were skilfully adapted, after the
ancient fashion, to represent character, and the incidents, if not
_vero_, were certainly ben trovato, and had the article ready for
transmission to _Ferrier's Journal_. 'A Sederunt' did not, however,
add to the miseries of a most courteous editor, for Jenkins, having
come up for an all-night conference, and having heard the article with
unfeigned delight, pointed out that, if it were accepted, which
Carmichael's experience did not certify, the writer would be run down
within fourteen days, and that, so unreasonable a thing is human
nature, some of the Presbytery might be less than pleased with their
own likenesses. "It 's in the waste-paper basket," Carmichael said
next morning, which, as the author was twenty-five years of age, and
not conspicuously modest, is a conclusive testimonial to the goodness
of one Presbytery, and its hold on the affection of its members.

Scots take their pleasures sadly, and no one can imagine from what arid
soil they may not draw their nutriment, but it was not for motions of
ponderous ambiguity and pragmatical points of order, that the minister
of Kincairney rose before daybreak on a winter's morning, and worked
his way to the nearest station, with the stars still overhead, and the
snow below his feet, so that when the clerk made a sign to the
Moderator punctually at one minute past eleven to "constitute the
Presbytery," he might not be missing from his place. It was the
longing of a lonely man, across whose front door no visitor had come
for weeks, for friendly company; of a weary minister, discouraged by
narrow circumstances, monotonous routine, unexpected disappointments
among his people, for a word of good cheer. A cynical stranger might
discover various stupidities, peculiarities, provincialisms in the
Presbytery--he knew himself who had a temper, and who was a trifle
sensitive about his rights--but this middle-aged, hard-working,
simple-living man saw twenty faithful brethren--the elders did not
count in this