Dr. Macrae was not pleased at such remarks. "Gratitude is a late plant," he said; "it grows at the very gate of heaven. A human being hardly ever receives it. I am sure, Jessy, if you had had to pay rent for the house and all its favors and advantages, it would have cost you a large sum of money." "If you are sure, Ian, that a kindness is true kindness, it is easy to be pleased and grateful; but, if you come to see there has been a selfish foundation for it, why should you be grateful?" "There was no selfish motive in Lady Cramer's kindness, Jessy." "I am glad to be informed of that. I thought it was very like the thousand pounds left you as a token of Lord Cramer's friendship. What weary reading and writing you have given for it, not to speak of the mental and spiritual danger and trouble, I call that thousand pounds the worst money you ever put in your purse. I don't think you owe Lord Cramer a pennyweight of gratitude for it. When did you get rid of the Reverend Dr. Scott?" "He went home early on Monday morning. He asked a queer favor of me on the Sabbath morning." "What was it?" "'Macrae,' he said, as we ate our breakfast, 'I ask you not to come to the Church of the Disciples to-day. I could not preach if you were present. I should be dumb.' I wondered at it." "I think it was a most natural request. Men are just like women. That last wet day made you say things to each other you were soon sorry for." "That may be so. Where is Donald? Did he not return with you?" "He came to the very doorstep with us. Then he had to hurry away to the Buchanan Street Station to see Lord Cramer, who is off to London." "Why?" "I never asked him. Donald will be here anon; he said he would not miss eating with us the first meal of our home-coming. He seemed particular about it. I thought he might be thinking of going away himself, perhaps----" "He is going to St. Andrews." "You are reckoning without your host, Ian. Donald has not one intention about St. Andrews." "Nevertheless, he is going to St. Andrews." "Just so--according to Ian Macrae. Donald Macrae is to hear from." "Every Scotchman, Jessy, considers it a great privilege to go to St. Andrews. St. Andrew was a good and a great man." "He was a very prudent, forecasting Saint--the only one of the Disciples who, at the great Preaching, knew where the bread and the fishes were. But, though I will not preach for your Saint, I will say nothing against him. If he can get Donald he may have him. But we will have our meal at six o'clock, Ian, and I hope there will be only good words with it to-night. It would be real unlucky to have a quarrel over our first meal."