should stand on your papers at their true value."

Deacon Slowcome was not, in reality, more surprised at this outbreak
than he had been when his "fore-quarter of bloody beef" had been
accepted unchallenged, but he professed to be so; and in his elaborate
astonishment allowed Janet's remarks about a slight mistake she had
made, and about the impropriety of "looking a gift horse in the mouth"
to pass unanswered.

"You were at liberty to return the beef if you didn't want it," said he,
with an injured air.

"Weel, I'll mind that next time," said she in a milder tone, by no means
sure how the minister might approve of her plain speaking. Deacon Fish
made a diversion in favour of peace, by holding up the new
subscription-list, and asking her triumphantly if that "didn't look
well."

"Ay, on paper," said Janet, dryly. "Figures are no' dollars. And if
your folk have been thinking that the minister and his family hae been
living only on the bits o' things written down on your paper you are
mistaken. The gude money that has helped it has been worth far more
than the like o' that, as I ken weel, who hae had the spending o' it;
but I daresay you're no' needing me longer, sir," she added, addressing
the minister, and she left the room.

This matter was not alluded to again for several days, but it did Janet
a deal of good to think about it. She had no time to indulge in
homesick musings, with so definite a subject of indignant speculation as
the meanness of the deacons. She "was nettled at herself beyond all
patience" that she should have allowed herself, to fancy that so many of
the things on the paper had been tokens of the people's good-will.

"Two hundred and seventy dollars and more," she repeated. "Things mount
up, I ken weel; but I maun take another look at it. And I'll hae more
sense anither time, I'm thinking."

She did not speak to Graeme. There would be no use to vex her; but she
would fain have had a few words with the minister, but his manner did
not encourage her to introduce the subject. A circumstance soon
occurred which gave her an opening, and the subject, from first to last,
was thoroughly discussed.

March was nearly over. The nights were cold still, but the sun was
powerful during the day, and there were many tokens that the earth was
about to wake from her long sleep and prepare for the refreshment of her
children. "And time for her," sighed Janet, taking a retrospective view
of all that