e Sabbath was lost
to Shenac.

She was by no means satisfied with herself because of this, for in her
heart she did not believe her weariness was a sufficient excuse for
staying away from the kirk; so whenever there was a meeting of any sort
in the school-house, which happened once a month generally, Shenac was
sure to be there. It was close by, and it was in the evening, and she
could take Flora and her little brothers, who could seldom go so far as
the kirk.

"Shenac," said her cousin one day, "why were you not at the kirk last
Sabbath? Such a fine day as it was; and to think of your letting Hamish
go by himself!"

"He did not go by himself; Dan went with him, and you came home with
him. And I did go to the kirk--at least I went to the school-house,
where old Mr Forbes preached," said Shenac.

"Toch!" exclaimed Shenac Dhu scornfully; "do you call _that_ going to
the kirk? Yon poor old body--do you call _him_ a minister? They say he
used to make shoes at home. I'm amazed at you, Shenac! you that's held
up to the rest of us as a woman of sense!"

Shenac Bhan laughed.

"Oh, as to his making shoes, you mind Paul made tents; and his sermons
are just like other folk's sermons: I see no difference."

"The texts are like other folk's, you mean," said Shenac Dhu slyly. "I
daresay you take a nap when he's preaching."

"No," said Shenac Bhan, not at all offended; "that's just the
difference. I never sleep in the school-house. I suppose because it's
cool, and I have a sleep before I go," she added candidly. "But as for
the sermons, they are just like other folk's."

"But that is nonsense," said Shenac Dhu. "He's just a common man, and
does not even preach in Gaelic."

"But our Shenac would say Paul did not do that, nor Dr Chalmers, nor
plenty more," said Hamish, laughing.

"Hamish," said Shenac Dhu severely, "don't encourage her in what is
wrong. Elder McMillan says it's wrong to go, and so does my father.
They don't even sing the Psalms, they say."

"That's nonsense, at any rate," said Shenac Bhan. "The very last
Sabbath they sang,--

"`I to the hills will lift mine eyes.'

"You can tell the elder that, and your father, if it will be any
consolation to them."

"Our Shenac sang it," said little Hugh. "John Keith wasn't there, and
the minister himself began the tune of Dundee. You should have heard
him when he came to the high part."

"I've heard him," said Shenac Dhu; and she raised her voic