ious to hear the latest gossip about the event
which meant so much to every one in the region. There was no newspaper
in the village, and the news of the week was passed about by word of
mouth in the kirkyard after service, or on week days was retailed over
the counter at the village post-office, which was post-office and
general store in one.

The Campbells were early in their pew, and the Twins watched the
other worshipers as they came slowly up the aisle and took their
places before time for the service to begin. Sandy winked at them
most indecorously across the church, but his mother poked him to
remind him of his duty, and he sent no more silent messages to
the other members of the Clan.

There was an air of expectation, which seemed to affect every one
in the kirk. Even the minister looked as if he had something
special on his mind, and as for Mr. Craigie, he was as solemnly
important, Sandy said afterwards, "as though he were the corpse
himself," while Angus Niel acted like nothing less than the chief
mourner.

In the kirkyard he let it be known that he was entirely familiar
with the details of the Auld Laird's funeral, which had occurred
in London the day before, though how the particulars reached him
in so short a time must forever remain a mystery.

It was Mr. Craigie, however, who gave out the important news
which every one had felt must be coming. On the steps after
service he said to Mr. Crumpet, "It's likely, Andrew, that you
may have more time about your lease. I've had news that the new
Laird is coming soon to the castle with his lawyers and some
other people to look over the estate and take possession. Eppie
McLean is to get ready for quite a party of the gentry."

Mrs. Crumpet was standing near her husband, and she was a bold
woman who would have asked a question of the Auld Laird himself,
if she had had occasion. "Then it's the sickly bit laddie who's
the heir?" she said, "and not the Edinburgh man?"

Mr. Craigie looked majestic and waved her aside, merely saying,
as he went down the steps, "It isna an Edinburgh body," but
giving no hint as to whether it was man, woman, or child. The
people who had gathered about him thinking to hear something
definite looked resentfully at his back as he walked away, and
Mrs. Crumpet openly expressed her opinion that he knew nothing
more about it himself. "If he did, he couldn't help letting it
dribble out by degrees, like a leaky kirn, being too stingy to