第19章

"But you don't think， Mr. Elginbrod， that the minister intended to say that justification left a man at liberty to sin， or that the robe of Christ's righteousness would hide him from the work of the Spirit？""Na； but there is a notion in't o' hidin' frae God himsel'. I'll tell ye what it is Mr. Sutherlan'： the minister's a' richt in himsel'， an' sae's my Janet here， an' mony mair； an' aiblins there's a kin' o' trowth in a' 'at they say； but this is my quarrel wi' a' thae words an' words an' airguments， an' seemilies as they ca' them， an' doctrines， an' a' that--they jist haud a puir body at airm's lenth oot ower frae God himsel'. An' they raise a mist an' a stour a' aboot him， 'at the puir bairn canna see the Father himsel'， stan'in' wi' his airms streekit oot as wide's the heavens， to tak' the worn crater，--and the mair sinner， the mair welcome，--hame to his verra hert. Gin a body wad lea' a' that， and jist get fowk persu鈊it to speyk a word or twa to God him lane， the loss， in my opingan， wad be unco sma'， and the gain verra great."Even Janet dared not reply to the solemnity of this speech； for the seer-like look was upon David's face， and the tears had gathered in his eyes and dimmed their blue. A kind of tremulous pathetic smile flickered about his beautifully curved mouth， like the glimmer of water in a valley， betwixt the lofty aquiline nose and the powerful but finely modelled chin. It seemed as if he dared not let the smile break out， lest it should be followed instantly by a burst of tears.

Margaret went close up to her father and took his hand as if she had been still a child， while Janet walked reverentially by him on the other side. It must not be supposed that Janet felt any uneasiness about her husband's opinions， although she never hesitated to utter what she considered her common-sense notions， in attempted modification of some of the more extreme of them. The fact was that， if he was wrong， Janet did not care to be right； and if he was right， Janet was sure to be； "for，" said she--and in spirit， if not in the letter， it was quite true--"I never mint at contradickin' him. My man sall hae his ain get， that sall he." But she had one especial grudge at his opinions； which was， that it must have been in consequence of them that he had declined， with a queer smile， the honourable position of Elder of the Kirk； for which Janet considered him， notwithstanding his opinions， immeasurably more fitted than any other man "in the haill country-side--ye may add Scotlan' forby."The fact of his having been requested to fill the vacant place of Elder， is proof enough that David was not in the habit of giving open expression to his opinions. He was looked upon as a douce man， long-headed enough， and somewhat precise in the exaction of the laird's rights， but open-hearted and open-handed with what was his own. Every one respected him， and felt kindly towards him； some were a little afraid of him； but few suspected him of being religious beyond the degree which is commonly supposed to be the general inheritance of Scotchmen， possibly in virtue of their being brought up upon oatmeal porridge and the Shorter Catechism.

Hugh walked behind the party for a short way， contemplating them in their Sunday clothes： David wore a suit of fine black cloth. He then turned to rejoin the laird's company. Mrs. Glasford was questioning her boys， in an intermittent and desultory fashion， about the sermon.

"An' what was the fourth heid， can ye tell me， Willie？"Willie， the eldest， who had carefully impressed the fourth head upon his memory， and had been anxiously waiting for an opportunity of bringing it out， replied at once：

"Fourthly： The various appellations by which those who have indued the robe of righteousness are designated in Holy Writ.""Weel done， Willie！" cried the laird.

"That's richt， Willie，" said his mother. Then turning to the younger， whose attention was attracted by a strange bird in the hedge in front. "An' what called he them， Johnnie， that put on the robe？" she asked.

"Whited sepulchres，" answered Johnnie， indebted for his wit to his wool-gathering.

This put an end to the catechising. Mrs. Glasford glanced round at Hugh， whose defection she had seen with indignation， and who， waiting for them by the roadside， had heard the last question and reply， with an expression that seemed to attribute any defect in the answer， entirely to the carelessness of the tutor， and the withdrawal of his energies from her boys to that "saucy quean， Meg Elginbrod."