An angry flush suffused the forehead of the Laird. I sadly fear he was not the heavenly-minded person depicted by the gushing preacher. He certainly would have resented and repudiated the portrait himself, and would have liked to detect some palpable sign of ironical intent, that he might quarrel with the man on the spot. But the preacher continued to regard him with his most lambent and seraphic smile, and in perfect good faith, without the smallest tinge of mockery. The audience, too, bore the outpouring in the best possible spirit. It struck them as very pretty language, and no doubt the Laird deserved it, though that was scarcely the view of his excellences which had hitherto presented itself to their minds; however, no doubt, the minister being a learned man knew best. Joseph was the only person present whose sense of humour was in any way disturbed. When he heard the Laird likened to a bird of beauty, his wandering eyes alighted on his honour's bald and blushing poll. He felt tempted to grin, but checked himself in time, raised his eyes to the ceiling and sighed long and softly, like one recovering breath after a protracted draught of sweetness. Mr. Dowlas bore the effusion with entire composure. Such bearing is a necessary gift in the eloquent professions. He had often had to practise it for the behoof of his fellows, and he suspected that they too had had reason to use it for his. He took up the examination. 'How was this infant brought home? he asked of Joseph. 'On Patey Soutar's pownie, sir. The minister cam hame ridin'.' 'Patey Soutar!' ejaculated Ebenezer, 'Patey Soutar the cadger? The maist ill doin' drucken vagabond e'y parish. Ye may tak yer aith the minister was after nae gude whan he gaed ridin' Patey Soutar's pownie!' 'Did you see him riding it then?' asked the Laird. 'No sir, but I heard tell o't.' 'Who told you?' 'I'm sure I canna say, sir.' 'Then we must question Soutar himself.' 'He's the warst leear e'y glen!' cried Joseph, who had no desire that it should be found out that it was himself who had procured Patey's pony for the minister. Had that come out, and the object of the minister's journey, all the suspicion and mystery would have fallen to pieces; and while he had no deliberate wish to injure the minister (whom indeed he liked as well as any one, except Joseph Smiley), yet if somebody else did it, and if Tibbie could be induced to join, why then his suit to Jean Macaulay might come to something. His attitude, therefore, may be described as 'expectant,' and his policy, to use his own words, was 'to haud a man on his ain gate.' 'And what do you think about this yourself, Joseph?' asked Mr. Geddie.