inish is more than I can
tell. Things went on happening so fast after the last page I writ, that
I neither had time to set them down, nor heart for doing it. Prince
William of Hanover (whom the Whigs call Duke of Cumberland) left
Edinburgh with a great army, not long after I writ; but no news has yet
reached us of any hostile meeting betwixt him and the Prince. Mr
Raymond saith Colonel Keith's chances may depend somewhat upon the
results of the battle, which is daily expected. Nevertheless, he adds,
there is no chance, for the Lord orders all things.

My Aunt Kezia and Mr Raymond have taken wonderfully to one another.
Hatty said to her that she could not think how they got on when they
chanced on politics.

"Bless you, child, we never do!" said my Aunt Kezia. "We have got
something better to talk about. And why should two brothers quarrel
because one likes red heels to his shoes and the other admires black
ones?"

"Ah, if that were all, Aunt!" said I. "But how can you leave it there?
It seems to me not a matter for opinion, but a question of right. We
have to take sides; and we may choose the wrong one."

"I don't see that a woman need take any side unless she likes," quoth my
Aunt Kezia. "I can bake as tasty a pie, and put on as neat a patch,
whether I talk of Prince Charles or the Young Pretender. And patches
and pies are my business: the Prince isn't. I reckon the Lord will
manage to see that every one gets his rights, without Kezia Courtenay
running up to help Him."

"But somebody has it to do, Aunt."

"Let them do it, then. I'm glad I'm not somebody."

"But, Aunt Kezia, don't you want people to have their rights?"

"Depends on what their rights are, child. Some of us would be very
sadly off if we got them. I should not like my rights, I know."

"Ah, you mean your deserts, Aunt," said Hatty. "But rights are not just
the same thing, are they?"

"Let us look it in the face, girls, if you wish," saith my Aunt Kezia.
"I hate seeing folks by side-face. If you want to see anybody, or
understand anything, look right in its face. What are rights? They are
not always deserts,--you are right there, Hatty,--for none of us hath
any rights as regards God. Rights concern ourselves and our fellow-men.
I take it, every man hath a right to what he earns, and to what is
given him,--whether God or man gave it to him,--so long as he that gave
had the right over what he gave. Now, as to this question, it