ot fond of making communications he did not approve
of, nor the Murchisons, who were shy of the matter as a queer business
which Advena seemed too much mixed up with, had mentioned it to anyone
else. Finlay himself had no intimates, and moved into his new house in
River Street under little comment. His doings excited small surprise,
because the town knew too little about him to expect him to do one
thing more than another. He was very significant among his people, very
important in their lives but not, somehow, at any expense to his private
self. He knew them, but they did not know him; and it is high praise of
him that this was no grievance among them. They would tell you without
resentment that the minister was a "very reserved" man; there might
be even a touch of proper pride in it. The worshippers of Knox Church
mission were rather a reserved lot themselves. It was different with the
Methodists; plenty of expansion there.

Elgin, therefore, knew nothing, beyond the fact that Dr Drummond had
two ladies from the old country staying with him, about whom particular
curiosity would hardly be expected outside of Knox Church. In view of
Finlay's absence, Dr Drummond, consulting with Mrs Kilbannon, decided
that for the present Elgin need not be further informed. There was no
need, they agreed, to give people occasion to talk; and it would just be
a nuisance to have to make so many explanations. Both Mrs Kilbannon and
her niece belonged to the race that takes great satisfaction in keeping
its own counsel. Their situation gained for them the further interest
that nothing need be said about it; and the added importance of caution
was plainly to be discerned in their bearing, even toward one another.
It was a portentous business, this of marrying a minister, under the
most ordinary circumstances, not to be lightly dealt with, and even
more of an undertaking in a far new country where the very wind blew
differently, and the extraordinary freedom of conversation made it more
than ever necessary to take heed to what you were saying. So far as Miss
Cameron and Mrs Kilbannon were aware, the matter had not been "spoken
of" elsewhere at all. Dr Drummond, remembering Advena Murchison's
acquaintance with it, had felt the weight of a complication, and had
discreetly held his tongue. Mrs Kilbannon approved her nephew in
this connection. "Hugh," she said, "was never one to let on more than
necessary." It was a fine secret between Hugh, in W