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           "

           "Heardyeeverthelike?WillSempillbehingin’uphisbonnetatCalidonandturnin’fraeministertolaird?Thelassiewillnodoubtheirtheplace,andit’sweelkennedthatSempillhaswaltho’gearo’hisain."

           "Hecannaweeldothatifhe’sexcommunicat.He’llaiblins[perhaps]beforfleein’thecountryliketheauldlaird,andtakin’thequeanwi’him."

           "Yehavenaheardtheendo’thetale,"saidthefirstspeaker."Dinnayatterlikepyets,orIwinnagetittelled....Thelassieisdeid--deidthreedayssyneo’abackcasto’thepest,andtheministerisnotohaudnorbindwi’grief.JohnniesaidhesatyestreenatKirkAllerwi’afacelikeacorpandtookhispaiksasmildasawean,andhimforordinar’sicanettercap.Johnniethriepitthathehadmaybelosthisreason."

           Therewassilenceamongherhearers,andonlyJeanoftheChasehope-footlaughed."She’sweelooto’it,"shesaid,"andhe’sweelserved."

           "Wheesht,wumman,"saidone."Theladhassinned,buthe’sbutyoung,andhispunishmentismaybeowersair."

           Therewasamovementamongthecrowd,fortheministerswereseenapproaching.Theywerereceivedbytheeldersandconductedtotheminutesession-house,whichwasapendicleontheeastwallofthekirk.Thecongregation,accordingtocustom,nowenteredthebuilding,whencecouldpresentlybeheardthesoundofslowpsalmody.Robbthebeadlewaitedatthesingledoortilltheministersreappeared,Mr.MuirheadinGenevagownandbands,Mr.Proudfootinhiscountryhomespun,forhewasadespiserevenofsanctionedforms.