ked Miss
Carmichael.

"Because the preachers are afraid for one thing, and lazy, for another.
They're afraid of the most ignorant folk in their congregation, who will
be sure to charge them with childishness and a contempt for the
intellect of their people. Then, it takes very wide and varied reading
to discover suitable stories that will point a Scripture moral."

"You seem to be on gude solid releegious groond doon there, meenister,"
interrupted the master of the house; "but Miss Du Plessis and Mrs.
Carmichael here are just corruptin' the minds o' Maister Wilkinson and
Maister Nash wi' the maist un-Sawbath like havers I ever hard at an
elder's table. We had better rise, gudewife!"

Shortly after the company returned to the parlour, Mr. Errol signified
that he must take his departure for the Lake Settlement, where his
second congregation was. At this Mr. Nash pricked up his ears, and said
he would saddle his horse and ride over with him. "Na, na!" cried the
Squire, "he'll no ride the day; I'll just get the waggon oot, and drive
ye baith there and back." Orders were given through Tryphosa, a comely,
red-cheeked damsel, who appeared in a few minutes to say that Timotheus
was at the gate. All went out to see the trio off, and there, sure
enough, was Timotheus of Peskiwanchow holding the restive horses. It
transpired that Carruthers, having lost his house servant through the
latter's misconduct, had commissioned his sister to find him a
substitute, and Marjorie's interest in Timotheus had resulted in his
being chosen to fill the vacant situation. He grinned his pleased
recognition of the two pedestrians, who bravely withstood all the
temptations to get into the waggon and visit the Lake Settlement. When
the waggon departed, Mrs. Carruthers went to her children, taking
Marjorie with her, and Mrs. Carmichael went upstairs for a read of a
religious paper and a nap. The young ladies and the tourists were the
sole occupants of the sitting-room. The lawyer went over to Miss Du
Plessis, and left his friend perforce to talk to Miss Carmichael.

"I hear, Miss Du Plessis, that you own a farm and valuable mineral
land," said Coristine.

"Did Messrs. Tylor, Woodruff and White give you that information?" she
asked in return.

"No, indeed; do you know my firm?"

"Very well, seeing I have been two years in Mr. Tylor's office."

"Two years in Tylor's office, and me not know it?"

"You do not seem to take much interest in femini