y a former generation of
Free Kirk heresy hunters. Hence she regarded with pity the hesitation
with which her Minister accepted some of the positions of the Higher
Critics. Although it is to be confessed that the war had somewhat rudely
shattered her devotion to German theology.

"What d'ye think o' yere friend Harnack the noo?" her son had jibed at
her soon after the appearance of the great manifesto from the German
professors.

"What do A think o' him?" she answered, sparring for time. "What do A
think o' him?" Then, as her eye ran over her son's uniform, for he was
on leave at the time, she blazed forth, "A'll tell ye what A think
o' him. A think that Auld Hornie has his hook intil him and the hale
kaboodle o' them. They hae forsaken God and made tae themselves ither
gods and the Almichty hae gi'en them ower tae a reprobate mind."

But her Canadian Minister's economic positions satisfied her. He had
specialised in Social and Economic Science in his University Course and
she considered him sound "in the main."

She had little patience with half baked theorists and none at all with
mere agitators. It was therefore with no small indignation that she saw
on a Sunday morning Mr. Wigglesworth making his way up the lane toward
her house door.

"The Lord be guid tae us!" she exclaimed. "What brings yon cratur
here--and on a Sabbath mornin'? Mind you, Malcolm," she continued in
a voice of sharp decision, "A'll hae nane o' his 'rights o' British
citizens' clack the morn."

"Who is it, Mother?" enquired her son, coming from his room to look out
through the window. "Oh, dinna fash ye're heid ower yon windbag," he
added, dropping into his broadest Doric and patting his mother on the
shoulder.

"He disna fash me," said his mother. "Nae fears. But A'll no pairmit
him to brak the Sabbath in this hoose, A can tell ye." None the less she
opened the door to Mr. Wigglesworth with dignified courtesy.

"Guid mornin', Mr. Wigglesworth," she said cordially. "Ye're airly on
yere way tae the Kirk."

"Yes--that is--yes," replied Mr. Wigglesworth in some confusion, "I am a
bit (h)early. Fact is, I was (h)anxious to catch Malcolm before 'e
went aht. I 'ave a rather (h)important business on 'and with 'im, very
(h)important business, I might say."

"'Business,' did ye say, Mr. Wigglesworth?" Mrs. McNish stood facing him
at the door. "Business! On the Lord's Day?"

Mr. Wigglesworth gaped at her, hat in hand.

"Well, Mrs. McNish, not