"_His_ people!" said the minister: "they have been his a long time to be so summarily dealt with as goods and chattels. The man must have got his ideas of Scotland from 'Waverley,' and thinks he is a Glennaquoich and at the head of a clan--what absurd folly it is!" "And just, 'Sir!'" said Miss Lumsden, indignantly; "he might have had the good breeding to call you 'Reverend' at least." Mr. Lumsden laughed. He rose and changed the long black garment, once a great-coat, now his study-coat and morning-undress, for habiliments better suiting the long ride he was about to commence, twisted his plaid round his neck, and shut his quarto. "What do you intend to do, John?" asked Miss Lumsden. "Are you going out?" "I intend to do just what I should have done, had I not received this polite note," said Mr. Lumsden. "I am going to Oranmore, Martha. This lordling threatens to eject these hapless Macalpines, and poor Kenneth, the widow's son, is on the very verge of the grave. I must see him to-day. If they attempt to remove him, it will kill the lad." "Remove them, John? what are you thinking of?" said Miss Lumsden: "it is nearly three months yet to the term." The minister shook his head. "They were warned to quit at Martinmas, Martha. This man, Lord Gillravidge, has his eyes open to his own advantage. He has been advised, I hear, to make one great sheep-farm of these exposed hill-lands. The poor little clachan of Oranmore could not believe that those fearful notices were anything but threats to secure the payment of their rent; but now they promise to turn very sad earnest. I do not know what to do." "Eject them?" said Miss Lumsden, "bring one of those terrible Irish scenes to our very door--in our peaceable country? John, it's not possible!" Mr. Lumsden looked still more serious. "I fear it is nearly certain, Martha. I met Big Duncan Macalpine on the road last night. He says Lord Gillravidge's agent and that fellow with the moustache, have been in the glen several times of late; and the ejectment must be accomplished before their seed is sown. At least if they are permitted to remain till after seed-time, the man will not surely have the heart to remove them then. I do not know--it is a very sad business altogether; but we must try to do something better for them than sending them, friendless and penniless, to Canada. We get a trial of all businesses, we ministers, Martha--this is a new piece of work for me." The minister's man stood at the door, holding the minister's stout, gray pony. Mr. Lumsden left the room. "And a great comfort it is, John my man," soliloquized his sister, "that your Master has made you able for them all."