Rabbi had allowed a very happily
situated pig-sty at the Manse of Kilbogie to sink into ruin.
Kildrummie, still in search of agreeable themes to pass the time, also
mentioned a pleasant tale he had gathered at the seed shop.

[Illustration: HE WATCHED THE DISPERSION OF HIS POTATOES WITH DISMAY]

"Yir neebur upbye, the General's dochter, is cairryin' on an awfu' rig
the noo at the Castle"--Kildrummie fell into dialect in private life,
often with much richness--"an' the sough (noise) o' her ongaeins hes
come the length o' Muirtown. The castle is foo' o' men--tae say
naethin' o' weemin; but it's little she hes tae dae wi' them or them
wi' her--officers frae Edinburgh an' writin' men frae London, as weel
as half a dozen coonty birkies."

"Well?" said Carmichael, despising himself for his curiosity.

"She hes a wy, there's nae doot o' that, an' gin the trimmie hesna
turned the heads o' half the men in the Castle, till they say she hes
the pick of twa lords, five honourables, and a poet. But the lassie
kens what's what; it's Lord Hay she's settin' her cap for, an' as sure
as ye're sittin' there, Drum, she'll hae him.

"Ma word"--and Kildrummie pursued his way--"it'll be a match, the
dochter o' a puir Hielant laird, wi' naethin' but his half pay and a
few pounds frae a fairm or twa. She's a clever ane; French songs,
dancin', shootin', ridin', actin', there's nae deevilry that's beyond
her. They say upbye that she's been a bonnie handfu' tae her
father--General though he be--an' a' peety her man."

"They say a lot of . . . lies, and I don't see what call a minister has
to slander . . ."; and then Carmichael saw the folly of quarrelling
with a veteran gossip over a young woman that would have nothing to say
to him. What two Free Kirk ministers or their people thought of her
would never affect Miss Carnegie.

"Truth's nae slander," and Kildrummie watched Carmichael with relish;
"a' thocht ye wud hae got a taste o' her in the Glen. Didna a' heer
frae Piggie Walker that ye ca'd her Jezebel frae yir ain pulpit, an'
that ma lady whuppit oot o' the kirk in the middle o' the sermon?"

"I did nothing of the kind, and Walker is a . . ."

"Piggie's no very particular at a time," admitted Kildrummie; "maybe
it's a makup the story aboot Miss Carnegie an' yirsel'.

"Accordin' tae the wratch," for Carmichael would deign no reply, "she
wes threatenin' tae mak' a fule o' the Free Kirk minister o' Drumtochty
juist for practice,