The draper looked up as he entered. A glance passed
between him and the minister. He came to Donal, and having heard
what he wanted, left him, went back to the minister, and took no
more notice of him. Donal found it awkward, and left the shop.
"High an' michty!" said the draper, annoyed at losing the customer
to whose dispraise he had been listening.
"Far beyond dissent, John!" said the minister, pursuing a remark.
"Doobtless, sir, it is that!" answered the draper. "I'm thankfu' to
say I never harboured a doobt mysel', but aye took what I was tauld,
ohn argle-barglet. What hae we sic as yersel' set ower's for, gien
it binna to haud's i' the straicht path o' what we're to believe an'
no to believe? It's a fine thing no to be accoontable!"
The minister was an honest man so far as he knew himself and
honesty, and did not relish this form of submission. But he did not
ask himself where was the difference between accepting the word of
man and accepting man's explanation of the word of God! He took a
huge pinch from his black snuffbox and held his peace.
In the evening Donal would settle his account with mistress Comin:
he found her demand so much less than he had expected, that he
expostulated. She was firm, however, and assured him she had
gained, not lost. As he was putting up his things,
"Lea' a buik or twa, sir," she said, "'at whan ye luik in, the place
may luik hame-like.
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