d I hope it was no sin in me that I did rejoice in the
dialogue which took place, it being the victory of righteousness over
error.

"Well, John, this is a fine day for your delving work."

"Ay, it's a tolerable day, sir."

"Are you thankful in heart, John, for such temporal mercies as these?"

"Aw doubt we're a' ower little thankfu', sir, baith for temporal an'
speeritual mercies; but it isna aye the maist thankfu' heart that maks
the greatest fraze wi' the tongue."

"I hope there is nothing personal under that remark, John?"

"Gin the bannet fits ony body's head, they're unco welcome to it, sir,
for me."

"John, I do not approve of these innuendoes. You have an arch malicious
manner of vending your aphorisms, which the men of the world are too
apt to read the wrong way, for your dark hints are sure to have one
very bad meaning."

"Hout na, sir, it's only bad folks that think sac. They find ma bits o'
gibes come hame to their hearts wi' a kind o' yerk, an' that gars them
wince."

"That saying is ten times worse than the other, John; it is a manifest
insult: it is just telling me to my face that you think me a bad man."

"A body canna help his thoughts, sir."

"No, but a man's thoughts are generally formed from observation. Now I
should like to know, even from the mouth of a misbeliever, what part of
my conduct warrants such a conclusion."

"Nae particular pairt, sir; I draw a' my conclusions frae the haill o'
a man's character, an' I'm no that aften far wrong."

"Well, John, and what sort of general character do you suppose mine to
be?"

"Yours is a Scripture character, sir, an' I'll prove it."

"I hope so, John. Well, which of the Scripture characters do you think
approximates nearest to my own?"

"Guess, sir, guess; I wish to lead a proof."

"Why, if it be an Old Testament character, I hope it is Melchizedek,
for at all events you cannot deny there is one point of resemblance: I,
like him, am a preacher of righteousness. If it be a New Testament
character, I suppose you mean the Apostle of the Gentiles, of whom I am
an unworthy representative."

"Na, na, sir, better nor that still, an' fer closer is the resemblance.
When ye bring me to the point, I maun speak. Ye are the just Pharisee,
sir, that gaed up wi' the poor publican to pray in the Temple; an'
ye're acting the very same pairt at this time, an' saying i' your
heart, 'God, I thank thee that I am not as other men are, an' in nae
way like