"I don't like the men, mother; nor does Ian," answered Alister gloomily. "Take care you are not unjust!" she replied. "You would not have liked Mr. Palmer's doctrine any better than we did, mother." "What was it?" "We would rather not tell you." "It was not fit for a woman to hear." "Then do not tell me. I trust you to defend women." "In God's name we will!" said Alister. "There is no occasion for an oath, Alister!" said his mother. "Alister meant it very solemnly!" said Ian. "Yes; but it was not necessary--least of all to me. The name of our Lord God should lie a precious jewel in the cabinet of our hearts, to be taken out only at great times, and with loving awe." "I shall be careful, mother," answered Alister; "but when things make me sorry, or glad, or angry, I always think of God first!" "I understand you; but I fear taking the name of God in vain." "It shall not be in vain, mother!" said the laird. "Must it be a breach with our new neighbours?" asked the mother. "It will depend on them. The thing began because we would not drink with them." "You did not make any remark?" "Not until our host's remarks called for our reasons. By the way, I should like to know how the man made his money." CHAPTER IV. THE BROTHERS. Events, then, because of the deeper things whence they came, seemed sorely against any cordial approach of the old and the new houses of Glenruadh. But there was a sacred enemy within the stronghold of Mr. Peregrine Palmer, and that enemy forbade him to break with the young highlanders notwithstanding the downright mode in which they had expressed their difference with him: he felt, without knowing it, ashamed of the things he had uttered; they were not such as he would wish proclaimed from the house-tops out of the midst of which rose heavenward the spire of the church he had built; neither did the fact that he would have no man be wicked on Sundays, make him feel quite right in urging young men to their swing on other days. Christian and Sercombe could not but admire the straightforwardness of the brothers; their conventionality could not prevent them from feeling the dignity with which they acted on their convictions. The quixotic young fellows ought not to be cut for their behaviour! They could not court their society, but would treat them with consideration! Things could not well happen to bring them into much proximity!