It spoke volumes for Milton's zeal that he was among the first to visit Jamie after he took to bed, and the Glen can never be sufficiently thankful that Elspeth Macfadyen was present to give an accurate account of the interview. “'Whatna step is that at the door?' said Jamie; 'a' never herd it here afore '; and when a' telt him it wes Milton, he gied me a luke an' briskit up that meenut. “'Elspeth, he 's come tae dae me gude, an' he thinks he hes me in his hand; pit him in yon chair whar a' can keep ma een on him, for a' canna manage him oot o' ma sicht.' “'It's solemn tae see ye brocht sae low, Jam--Mister Soutar '; he thocht he micht try Jamie at laist, but the spunk gied oot o' him facin' Jamie. 'Thae strokes are sent for a wise end; they humble oor pride.' “'It's no a stroke,' said Jamie, lookin' fearsome at him frae ablow his nicht-cap, 'though a 'll no deny there micht be a titch o' rheumaticks. But a' coont lumbago mair subduin'; it taks ye sudden in the sma o' the back, an' 'ill keep ye in the bit for an 'oor.' “'A' wes thinkin' o' the hert, no the body, ma freend,' an' Milton started on the whine; 'a 've been afflickit masel, an' dinna ken what a 'd been the day hed it no been for trials.' “'Ye needna tell me, Milton, for a'body kens yir losses, but a' houp ye'ill hae the present gude wife a whilie; is she yir third or fourth? for ma memory's gaein' fast.' “Milton said naethin' for a meenut, an' a' daurna look at him, but Jamie's een were dancin' in his heid; he wes haein' his last bout wi' Milton, an' it wes meat an' drink tae him. “'Wud ye like me tae read somethin'?' begins Milton again. 'A've a fine tract here, “A Sandy Foundation”; it's verra searchin' an' rousin', an' he pits on his glesses. “'Thank ye,' says Jamie, 'but thae tracts are ower deep for a simple man like masel; the Bible dis for me graund. A've a favourite passage; noo if ye didna mind readin' 't, it wud be a comfort. “'Turn tae the 23rd o' Matthew, an' it 'ill dae fine gin ye begin at the 13th verse, “Woe unto ye, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites,” an' as sure as a'm lookin' at ye, Drumsheugh, Jamie gared Milton feenish the chapter, an' ilka time heepocrites wud come he wud say tae himsel, 'Maist comfortin',' till a' hed tae gae ootside; he wes a veecious cratur, Jamie, when he hed an ill-wull tae a body. “When a' cam in, Milton hed been wantin' tae pray, and Jamie wes layin' doon three condeetions. “'First, ye maunna scriech (scream), for that wud gae through ma head; secondly,' just like a sermon, 'ye 're no tae gang wanderin' aifter the Jews or ony orra fouk; and laist, there's tae be naethin' personal, for a' wud coont that doonricht impidence.' “'A'm astonished at ye,' says Milton; 'hoo cud ye expect a blessin' on sic a prayer?' an' he rises tae leave. 'Ye 're sure there's naethin' on yir mind, for a 've hed experience.'