her how Hendry had disgraced them.

"The minister," said Hendry, turning his back on Leeby, "didna forget
the lassie. Na; as sune as he got a kirk, he married her. Ay, she got
her reward. He married her. It was rale noble of 'im."

I do not know what Leeby said to Hendry when she got him beyond the
manse gate, for I stayed behind to talk to the minister. As it turned
out, the minister's wife did most of the talking, smiling
good-humouredly at country gawkiness the while.

"Yes," she said, "I am sure I shall like Thrums, though those teas to
the congregation are a little trying. Do you know, Thrums is the only
place I was ever in where it struck me that the men are cleverer than
the women."

She told us why.

"Well, to-night affords a case in point. Mr. McQumpha was quite
brilliant, was he not, in comparison with his daughter? Really she
seemed so put out at being at the manse that she could not raise her
eyes. I question if she would know me again, and I am sure she sat in
the room as one blindfolded. I left her in the bedroom a minute, and I
assure you, when I returned she was still standing on the same spot in
the centre of the floor."

I pointed out that Leeby had been awestruck.

"I suppose so," she said; "but it is a pity she cannot make use of her
eyes, if not of her tongue. Ah, the Thrums women are good, I believe,
but their wits are sadly in need of sharpening. I daresay it comes of
living in so small a place."

I overtook Leeby on the brae, aware, as I saw her alone, that it had
been her father whom I passed talking to Tammas Haggart in the Square.
Hendry stopped to have what he called a tove with any likely person he
encountered, and, indeed, though he and I often took a walk on
Saturdays, I generally lost him before we were clear of the town.

In a few moments Leeby and I were at home to give Jess the news.

"Whaur's yer father?" asked Jess, as if Hendry's way of dropping behind
was still unknown to her.

"Ou, I left him speakin' to Gavin Birse," said Leeby. "I daursay he's
awa to some hoose."

"It's no very silvendy (safe) his comin' ower the brae by himsel," said
Jess, adding in a bitter tone of conviction, "but he'll gang in to no
hoose as lang as he's so weel dressed. Na, he would think it boastfu'."

I sat down to a book by the kitchen fire; but, as Leeby became
communicative, I read less and less. While she spoke she was baking
bannocks with all the might of her, and Jess,