pin' the dyke. Sall, gin he dinna mak a roadie for himsel' through
the field that year. A' wudna say," she used to add in a casual tone,
"but that he micht hae gi'en a cry at the Lodge, but he cudna dae less,
passin' the door."

Carmichael was astonished himself at the number of times he was obliged
to see General Carnegie on business, of one kind or another. Sometimes
it was about the Flower Show, of which the General had become a patron;
sometimes it was the Highland Games, when the General's help would be
of so much use; sometimes it was the idea of repairing the old bridge;
sometimes--and Carmichael blushed when it came to this--to get the
General's opinion on a military question in the Bible. The least he
could do in laying such a tax on a good-natured man was to bring a book
for his daughter's reading, or a curious flower he had picked up on the
hill, or a story he had heard in his visiting. Miss Carnegie was
generally gracious, and would see him on his way if the day were fine,
or show him some improvements in the "Pleasaunce," or accompany him to
Janet's cottage to have a taste of that original woman's conversation
together. It came upon Carmichael at a time that he was,
inadvertently, calling too frequently at the Lodge, and for a week he
would keep to the main, road, or even pass the corner of the Lodge with
an abstracted air--for he loathed the thought of being deflected from
the path of duty by any personal attraction--and used to change the
subject of conversation after Janet had spoken for half an hour on Kate.

People were speculating in a guarded manner regarding the possibility
of news, and Janet had quarrelled furiously with Donald for laughing
such unworthy rumours to scorn, when the parish was almost convulsed by
the historic scene in the Free Kirk, and all hope of a romantic
alliance was blasted. Archie Moncur, elder, and James Macfadyen,
deacon, were counting the collection in the vestibule, and the
congregation within were just singing the last verse of their first
psalm, when General Carnegie and his daughter appeared at the door.

"Has service begun?" whispered Kate, while her father reverently bared
his head. "I 'm so sorry we are late, but you will let us in, won't
you, and we shall be as quiet as mice."

"A 'll open the door," and Archie explained the geography of the
situation, "an' ye 'll juist slip intae the manse pew; it's in the
corner, wi' curtains roond it, an' naebody 'll s