jist to-day."

Spectacle John sniffed. "Huh! That young Graham, that teached here
before her, was loony on the same notion. He's sit up half the night
argifyin' with me that the earth was spinnin' 'round like a dog after
its tail. I uster ask him how it was we didn't tumble off when we was
danglin', head downward, in the dark, an' that uster to give him the
blind staggers every time. He was a terror for argifyin', though, that
chap; an' one night he got me to give in that it was mebby round like a
cheese and us livin' on the flat top. It was in Sawed-Off Wilmott's
cheese factory he was shootin' off that time. Well, I went that far,
but further than that there's no livin' man'll get me to go."

A tall figure had crossed the bridge and was nearing the group. There
was a perceptible stir, and all conversation ceased. "'Ere's the
minister," said Silas Long. "We'd better get started."

"Mr. Scott's been tryin' all day to get a light job for that McIntyre,"
said Jake Sawyer innocently, "but he don't seem to've got anything easy
enough yet."

Uncle Hughie darted a warning glance at the indiscreet miller, but it
was too late.

"He'll be well looked after, then, I'm thinkin'," said Sandy, promptly
rising. "There'll be no need o' me goin' with ye the night, Hughie.
Maister Scott'll likely give him a job in"--he paused to let the heavy
weight of his sarcasm fall resoundingly--"in Muskoky!"

He tramped away, and, climbing the fence, strode across the fields in
the direction of his mill.

"Ain't 'e a caution, now?" asked Silas Long in a tone of fear. "You
mark my words, now--jist mark my words--that man's goin' to meet a
judgment some day. It ain't safe to act like that to the minister,
that's wot it ain't."

"Fine night," the assembly remarked unanimously. Mr. Scott was a
good-looking man of middle age, tall and straight, with a massive head,
covered with thick iron-gray hair. He had deep blue eyes, with little
lines at their corners showing they were prone to kindly laughter.

"What's the question to-night?" he asked, the lines around his eyes
deepening. "Have you found a new star, Silas?"

"Eh, eh, mebby, mebby," answered Uncle Hughie. "If it is, it seems to
be a fallen one, whatever. We would jist be talkin' about yon poor
body we're goin' to see. Come away, now."

The milkstand arose leisurely. Silas Long shouldered his telescope,
Jake Sawyer slung his orphan over his back, and the group turned