All the village idlers were in the street to admire the dog-cart and the groom, and wonder what the gentlemen could have to say in so long an interview with Eppie Ness. No sooner had they gone, however, than Eppie herself came forth brimming over with the news, and mightily uplifted, if also sad at the possible chance of being parted from her charge, to tell the neighbours that a great gentleman was claiming her nurseling for his own child, that it was to be brought up as one of the first ladies of the land, and that aiblins she, Eppie Ness, might have to journey into foreign parts in attendance on the precious infant. 'An' it's wae gude Mister Brown wull be, to hae the wee dawtie ta'en frae him!' 'An' it's blate the Presbytery may weel be,' added Peter Malloch 'for a' the daftlike clavers they hae set rinnin' fornent him.' Mrs. Sangster was in Ebenezer Prittie's shop when the news was brought in of the father that had appeared to claim the minister's bairn. They both listened to the tale with much curiosity and interest, but without one twinge of compunction at their own uncharitable constructions in time past. They were both far too excellent for that, and the lady's mind too well regulated to suppose that she could possibly have acted or thought amiss. On the contrary, she was disposed to draw improvement and instruction from the whole matter in the usual way, by moralizing on the inscrutable ways of Providence, and hoping that it would be 'a warning to the church office-bearers to practice a more abundant charity in the future, and to refrain from hasty judgments.' 'Hech! ay, mem,' sighed Ebenezer, 'it's juist hum'lin' to think what haste an' uncharitableness the Presbytery hae leuten themsel's be betrayed intil! An' Mester Dowlas! an' Mester Geddie! twa sic gude men. That they suld sae far hae forgotten a' christian charity! It's juist hum'lin'! But the best o' us wull gae wrang whiles!' Joseph Smiley was the last man in the village to hear the news. His wife was cooking, while he sat rocking the cradle till the food should be prepared. Tibbie came bustling in from the street. 'There's news steerin', Tib!' she cried, 'but I haena juist gotten the richts o't yet. Get up! Joseph Smiley, I win'er ye dinna think shame! A muckle man like you, hingin' about the house like a singet cat, at this time o' day! Out wi' ye! an' bring back word what's steerin'. An' de'il a bite ye'se get, till ye can tell us a' about it!' 'Poor Joseph! He had come to this! Laid by the heels at last! and no mistake. The jaunty bachelor, so alert and brisk, was quenched for ever, and a poor, meek, hen-pecked creature had taken his place, sighing under a mother-in-law's iron yoke, which grew heavier each day as the victim developed new capacity of endurance.