'You are a canny man, Joseph, but I think the more of you for it. It would not do for you to be disclosing your master's secrets, but you must remember you are the servant of the church as well, and that she has the highest claim on your fidelity, and I don't mind saying to you that I see a very remarkable resemblance, notwithstanding that the eyes are of a different colour, and the hair fair instead of dark. That's what makes it so remarkable! The features are all different, there is nothing that can be set aside as a mere accidental coincidence, and yet the likeness is so manifest to me! Do you really mean that nobody in the village has noticed it?' 'Deed, mem, an' I hae na juist heard quite sae muckle as that. But ye see we're plenn folk down by, an' maun look til our betters for guidance, whiles?' 'Very true. But what are they saying about it all?' 'I hae telled ye a' I ken, mem, an' that's naething.' 'And what do you think yourself, then, of all these rumours and suspicions that are flying about? Can it really be possible that Mr. Brown is the father of that infant, do you think?' 'God forbid, mem, that our young minister suld hae sae far fa'en frae grace! I wad houp for the best! But it's an auld an' true sayin', that there's aye water whaur the stirk's drooned, an we ken oursels there's nae reek but whaur there's burnin'.' But come now, Joseph, is not Mr. Brown constantly going to see those women after dark? And does he not give them a great deal of money?' 'He's been there, mem, I ken, but he gangs to a' body; it's his wark. An' he's gien them siller, but he's aye doin' that as weel, whan he thinks folk want it. I see na weel 'at that need tell against him. Hooever, as ye say yersel', the suspeecion wad na licht, athout some grund. It's a bad job.' CHAPTER XIX. _SUBORNATION OF PERJURY_. It was late in the afternoon when Joseph started homewards. He had spent a cheerful day, and was in the best of spirits. The servants at Auchlippie had been most hospitable, and his friend Jean assiduous in replenishing his cog from the kitchen beer-barrel; she had been gay and saucy in the extreme, and her dexterity with tongue and fist, whenever he went beyond the permitted limit, had excited his sincere respect and admiration. 'A clever cummer 'at can haud her ain wi' the next ane! An' hech, but she's gleg!' was Joseph's admiring soliloquy, as he tramped down the road.