k a big share in the organizing of these meetings and in
addressing them. He flung himself into this work whole-heartedly. The
terms certainly did not please him; but, as the majority at the London
Conference had decided to recommend them to the men, he thought it his
duty to sink his personal opinions, and in the interests of discipline
and the unity of the organization--as he had already had his say and had
been found in the minority--he put all his efforts into trying to get
the men to accept the suggested terms, and go forward as one united
body. His persuasive powers of appeal, and his straight, direct way of
argument, commended him to his comrades. By the time that the ballot had
been carried through in the various districts, it was mid-February, and
the Scottish delegates met in Edinburgh to give the result of the
voting among the rank and file.

Robert attended the Conference, and while he had appealed to the men to
accept the terms of the London Conference, he secretly hoped that the
ballot vote of the men would decide to fight; for, like Davie Donaldson,
he believed they had again been side-tracked. He wondered how Smillie
regarded the matter. He had not had an opportunity of talking with
Smillie to learn his opinion, but he felt sure that his leaders did not
like the terms either.

If, however, the men had agreed on acceptance, he could not help
matters; but a direct refusal from the rank and file would, he thought,
be an intimation to the more reactionary leaders that the spirit of
revolt was growing, and would give the rebels the chance for which they
were looking. But he would soon know, he thought, as he hastened to the
Synod Hall, where the Conference was to be held; for the result of the
ballot was to be announced at the end of the first part of the
Conference.

There was some routine business to get over when it opened, and after a
while the President rose and gave the result of the ballot, which showed
a considerable majority for acceptance, and this brought the adjournment
for dinner.

Robert felt that he wanted to spend a quiet five minutes or so before
the Conference resumed; so he hurried through with his dinner and then
strolled out into Princes Street Gardens, which attracted him very much.
His mind seemed to want peace and quietness, and as he walked along,
turning over the situation and examining it from all points of view, the
fluttering of early mating birds among the shrubs soon shifted