An ordinary Drumtochty mother, although bursting with pride, wouldhave responded, "He's weel eneuch, if he hed grace inside his heart," ina tone that implied it was extremely unlikely, and that her laddieled the reprobates of the parish. As it was, Marget's facelightened, and she waited.

"What do you think of making him?" and the Dominie dropped the wordsslowly, for this was a moment in Drumtochty.

There was just a single ambition in those humble homes, to have oneof its members at college, and if Domsie approved a lad, then hisbrothers and sisters would give their wages, and the family wouldlive on skim water and oat cake, to let him have his chance.

Whinnie glanced at his wife and turned to Domsie.

"Marget's set on seein' Geordie a minister, Dominie."

"If he's worthy o't, no otherwise. We haena the means though; thefarm is highly rented, and there's barely a penny over at the end o'the month."

"But you are willing David should go and see what he can do. If hedisappoint you, then I dinna know a lad o' pairts when I see him,and the Doctor is with me."