"I tak’ it, with all respect to you, sir, and to madam," said Dick, "that love will aye do what’s right, and will, therefore, aye do what’s just and generous. We may miss fire pointing the gun wi’ the eye o’ justice, but never wi’ the eye o’ love. The sight is then always clearer; anyhow to me. Excuse me, Mr. Porteous, if I presume to preach to you. The Haldanites do a little in that line, tho’ they’re no’ a’ ministers! I’m a plain man that speaks my mind, and sin’ ye hae gi’en me liberty to speak, let me ax if ye wad hae killed yon fine bird, that was wee Charlie’s, wi’ yer ain han’, minister?" "Ay, and all the birds under heaven!" replied Mr. Porteous, "if the law of the Church required it." "I should think so! and so would I," added Miss Thomasina, walking out of the room. "It wad be a dreich warl’ wi’oot a bird in the wuds or in the lifts!" said the Corporal. "Maybe it’s because I’m a Haldanite, but, wi’ a’ respect, I think I wad miss the birds mair oot o’ the warl’ than I wad a’ the kirk coorts in the kintra!" "Drop the subject, drop the subject, Mr. Dick!" said the minister, impatiently; "you are getting personal." The Corporal could not see how that was, but he could see that his presence was not desired. So he rose to depart, saying--"I’m feared I hae been impudent, an’ that my gun has got raither het firing, but, in candid truth, I wasna meanin’t. But jist let me say ae word mair; ye’ll alloo this, that a fool may gie an advice tae a wise man, and this is my advice tae you, sir--the advice o’ an auld sodger and a Haldanite; no’ muckle worth, ye may think:--Dinna hairm Adam Mercer, or ye’ll hairm yer best freen’, yer best elder, and yer best parishioner. I beg pardon for my freedom, sir," he added, with a deferential bow. The minister returned it stiffly, remarking only that Mr. Dick was ignorant of all the facts and history of the case, or he would have judged otherwise. Something, however, of what the Corporal had said fell on the heart of the minister, like dew in a cloudy night upon dry ground. CHAPTER XXIV DR. SCOTT AND HIS SERVANT The Corporal was obliged, on family or on Haldanite business, we know not which, to return by the "Highflyer" next morning. As that slow but sure conveyance jolted along the road but twice a week, he could not, in the circumstances in which he was placed, remain until its next journey.