“Drumsheugh”--and the doctor, who had been finding the room too small for him, came to a halt opposite his friend--“ye 're the maist accomplished leear 'at 's ever been born in Drumtochty, an'... the best man a' ever saw. Eh, Drum,” and Maclure's voice sank, “hoo little we kent ye. It's an awfu' peety Domsie didna hear o' this afore he slippit awa'; a' can see him straichtenin' himsel at the story. Jamie Soutar 'ill be michty when he gets a haudo't....” Twice Drumsheugh had tried to interrupt Maclure and failed, but now he brought his hand down upon the table. “Wud ye daur, Weelum, tae mention ae word a' hae telt ye ootside this room? gin a' thocht he wes the man-” And Drumsheugh's face was blazing. “Quiet, man, quiet! Ye ken a' wudna with-oot yir wull; but juist ae man, Jamie Soutar. Ye 'ill lat me share 't wi' Jamie.” “No even Jamie; an' a'm ashamed tae hae telt yersel, for it looks like boastin'; an' aifter a' it wes a bit o' comfort tae me in ma cauldrife life. “It's been a gey lang trial, Weelum; ye canna think what it wes tae see her sittin' in the kirk ilka Sabbath wi' her man, tae follow her face in the Psalms, tae catch her een in the Saicrament, an' tae ken that a' never wud say 'Marget' tae her in luve. “For thirty year an' mair a 've studied her, an' seen her broon hair that wes like gowd in the sunlight turn grey, and care score lines on her face, b'it every year she 's comelier in ma een. “Whinnie telt us his tribble aboot the bill in the kirkyard, an' a' saw the marks o 't in her look. There wes a tear ran doon her cheek in the prayer, an' a'... cud hae grat wi' her, an' then ma hert loupit wi' joy, for a' thocht there 'll be nae tear next Sabbath. “Whinnie got the siller frae his... cousin, ye ken, through the week, an' settled his debt on Friday. A' met him on the street, an' made him buy a silk goon for Marget:... a' gied wi' him tae choose it, for he's little jidgment, Whinnie.” “A' wes in the train that day masel,” broke in the doctor, “an' a' mind Hillocks daffin' wi' ye that nae wumman cud get a goon oot o' you. Sic fuies an' waur.” “A' didna mind that, no ae straw, Weelum, for Marget wes ten year younger next Sabbath, an' she wore ma goon on the Saicrament. A' kent what bocht it, an' that was eneuch for me. “It didna maitter what the Glen said, but ae thing gied tae ma hert, an' thet wes Marget's thocht o' me... but a' daurna clear masel. “We were stannin' thegither ae Sabbath”--Drumsheugh spoke as one giving a painful memory, on which he had often brooded--“an' gaein' ower the market, an' Hillocks says, 'A' dinna ken the man or wumman 'at 'ill get a bawbee oot o' you, Drumsheugh. Ye 're the hardest lad in ten parishes.'