What, are you coming with us?"

"Av coorse! D'ye think the departmint cud ha done so long wit'out me iv
Oi hadn't shint in my risignaation?"

"Then you are really going across for a holiday?"

"Oi'm goin' to lit Honoria git a shmill av the Oirish cloimate, an' a
peep at the ould shod, fwhere her anshisters is slapin' it's many a long
year."

"What a glorious time we're going to have!"

"Troth for you, sor, an' we'll sit this bhoy on his pins agin."

Many letters were despatched that afternoon, and Timotheus was kept
busy, inviting parties whom the post was slow in reaching. On Sunday,
there being no service at St. Cuthbert's in the Fields, the Kirk was
crowded, and Mr. Errol announced a service of special interest on
Wednesday morning at 11 o'clock, when his co-presbyter, the Rev. Dr.
MacPhun, would officiate. His own text was "It is not good that the man
should be alone," and towards the close of the service he stated that
the Presbytery had given him leave of absence for three months, which he
intended to spend in Britain, during which time his people would have an
opportunity of hearing many profitable preachers, under Dr. MacPhun's
moderatorship _pro tem_. Monday was a day of trunk packing and other
preparations, connected with all sorts of boxes and parcels brought by
the stage during the previous week. The next day the guests arrived. Dr.
Halbert came first, excusing his early appearance by saying he felt
lonely, and wanted to see young faces again. Then the Captain drove up
in grand style, having on board Mrs. Thomas, her domestic, Malvina
McGlashan, Sylvanus, and his strict parent, Saul. Malvina was received
by the maids with great effusion, while the paternal Pilgrim eyed
Timotheus, who had come forward to shake hands with his father. "What is
the chief end of man, Timotheus?" The son answered correctly. "What is
sin?" was appropriately solved, and "What is the reason annexed to the
fifth commandment?" Then came, "What is repentance unto life," and on
the answer to this Mr. Pilgrim preached a brief homily. "With grief and
hatred of his sin, turns from it, with full purpose of, and endeavour
after, new obedience. Is that you, Timotheus?" "Yes, fayther."

"Young women," said Saul, addressing the maids, "has the walk and
conversation of Timotheus been according to his lights, or according to
his whilom lammentable and ungodly profession?"

Tryphena could not reply, for the audacious Sylvanus, unaffected by