voice rose full and clear, and so did the voices of the
others, each carrying a part, in a way which made even the minister
wonder:

"In thy salvation we will joy,
In our God's name we will
Lift up our banner, and the Lord
Thy prayers all fulfil."

Then the books were closed, and the minister prayed, and without a word
or a look to any one, except only sleepy Davie, Allison rose and went
away. But in her heart she was repeating:

"Grant thee thy heart's wish and fulfil
Thy thoughts and counsels wise.
In thy salvation we will joy--"

"Maybe the Lord has minded on me, and sent me this word. I will take it
for a sign."

The two friends went out into the dark, as Saunners said, "strengthened
by the occasion," but it was not of Jacob, nor his blessing nor his
banishment that they "discoorsed" together as they jogged along, sitting
among the straw in Peter's cart. Peter was inclined to be sleepy after
the long day, and had he been alone he would have committed himself to
the sense and judgment of his mare Tibbie, and slept all the way home.
But his friend "wasna ane o' the sleepy kind," as he said, and he had
something to say.

"What ailed John Beaton the nicht, think ye? He's ready eneuch to put
in his word for ordinar, but he never opened his mouth through a' the
exerceese, and was awa' like a shot ere ever we were off our knees, with
not a word to onybody, though he's but just hame."

"Ay, that was just it. He would be thinkin' o' his mither, puir bodie,
at hame her lane."

"Ay, that micht account for his haste, and it micht weel hae keepit him
at hame a'thegither, to my thinkin'. But that needna hae keepit his
mouth shut since he was there. It's no' his way to hide his licht
aneath a bushel as a general thing."

"It wad be a peety gin he did that. Licht is needed among us," said
Peter, who admired in his friend the gift of easy speaking, which he did
not possess himself.

"Oh! ay, that's what I'm sayin'. And what for had he naething to say
the nicht? I doot it's nae just as it should be with him, or he wad hae
been readier with his word."

"There's sic a thing as being ower-ready wi' ane's word. There's a time
to keep silence an' a time to speak, according to Solomon. But word or
no word I'm no' feart for John Beaton."

"Weel, I canna just say that I'm feart for him mysel'; and as ye say,
he's maybe whiles ower-ready to put in his word wi' aulder folk. But
gaein' here