an alternative. This was
the time I saw most of him, and he and Leeby were often in my thoughts.
There is as terrible a bubble in the little kettle as on the cauldron
of the world, and some of the scenes between Jamie and Leeby were great
tragedies, comedies, what you will, until the kettle was taken off the
fire. Hers was the more placid temper; indeed, only in one way could
Jamie suddenly rouse her to fury. That was when he hinted that she had
a large number of frocks. Leeby knew that there could never be more
than a Sabbath frock and an everyday gown for her, both of her mother's
making, but Jamie's insinuations were more than she could bear. Then I
have seen her seize and shake him. I know from Jess that Leeby cried
herself hoarse the day Joey was buried, because her little black frock
was not ready for wear.

Until he went to Tilliedrum Jamie had been more a stay-at-home boy than
most. The warmth of Jess's love had something to do with keeping his
heart aglow, but more, I think, he owed to Leeby. Tilliedrum was his
introduction to the world, and for a little it took his head. I was in
the house the Sabbath day that he refused to go to church.

He went out in the forenoon to meet the Tilliedrum lads, who were to
take him off for a holiday in a cart. Hendry was more wrathful than I
remember ever to have seen him, though I have heard how he did with the
lodger who broke the Lord's Day. This lodger was a tourist who
thought, in folly surely rather than in hardness of heart, to test the
religious convictions of an Auld Licht by insisting on paying his bill
on a Sabbath morning. He offered the money to Jess, with the warning
that if she did not take it now she might never see it. Jess was so
kind and good to her lodgers that he could not have known her long who
troubled her with this poor trick. She was sorely in need at the time,
and entreated the thoughtless man to have some pity on her.

"Now or never," he said, holding out the money.

"Put it on the dresser," said Jess at last, "an' I'll get it the morn."

The few shillings were laid on the dresser, where they remained
unfingered until Hendry, with Leeby and Jamie, came in from church.

"What siller's that?" asked Hendry, and then Jess confessed what she
had done.

"I wonder at ye, woman," said Hendry, sternly; and lifting the money he
climbed up to the attic with it.

He pushed open the door, and confronted the lodger.

"Take back yer siller