"There's to be a puddin' made the morn, Leeby. Ou, ay, a' thing points to that; an' we're very sure there's nae puddins at the lawyer's on the Sabbath onless they hae company." "I dinna ken wha they can hae, if it be na that brither o' the wife's 'at bides oot by Aberdeen." "Na, it's no him, Leeby; na, na. He's no weel to do, an' they wouldna be buyin' cream for 'im." "I'll run up to the attic again, an' see if there's ony stir at the lawyer's hoose." By and by Leeby returned in triumph. "Ou, ay," she said, "they're expectin' veesitors at the lawyer's, for I could see twa o' the bairns dressed up to the nines, an' Mistress Ogilvy doesna dress at them in that wy for naething." "It fair beats me though, Leeby, to guess wha's comin' to them. Ay, but stop a meenute, I wouldna wonder, no, really I would not wonder but what it'll be--" "The very thing 'at was passin' through my head, mother." "Ye mean 'at the lad Wilkie 'll be to bide wi' the lawyer i'stead o' wi' Sam'l Duthie? Sal, am thinkin' that's it. Ye ken Sam'l an' the lawyer married on cousins; but Mistress Ogilvy ay lookit on Chirsty as dirt aneath her feet. She would be glad to get a minister, though, to the hoose, an' so I warrant the lad Wilkie 'll be to bide a' nicht at the lawyer's." "But what would Chirsty be doin' gettin' the chintz an' the fender in that case?" "Ou, she'd been expeckin' the lad, of course. Sal, she'll be in a michty tantrum aboot this. I wouldna wonder though she gets Sam'l to gang ower to the U. P's." Leeby went once more to the attic. "Ye're wrang, mother," she cried out. "Whaever's to preach the morn is to bide at the manse, for the minister's servant's been at Baker Duft's buyin' short-bread--half a lippy, nae doot." "Are ye sure o' that, Leeby?" "Oh, am certain. The servant gaed in to Duffs the noo, an', as ye ken fine, the manse fowk doesna deal wi' him, except they're wantin' short-bread. He's Auld Kirk." Leeby returned to the kitchen, and Jess sat for a time ruminating. "The lad Wilkie," she said at last, triumphantly, "'ll be to bide at Lawyer Ogilvy's; but he'll be gaen to the manse the morn for a tea-dinner." "But what," asked Leeby, "aboot the milk an' the cream for the lawyer's?" "Ou, they'll be hae'n a puddin' for the supper the nicht. That's a michty genteel thing, I've heard." It turned out that Jess was right in every particular. CHAPTER III PREPARING TO RECEIVE COMPANY Leeby was at the fire brandering a quarter of steak on the tongs, when the house was flung into consternation by Hendry's casual remark that he had seen Tibbie Mealmaker in the town with her man. "The Lord preserv's!" cried Leeby. Jess looked quickly at the clock. "Half fower!" she said, excitedly. "Then it canna be dune," said Leeby, falling despairingly into a chair, "for they may be here ony meenute."