"Yon were verra suitable words at the second table; he's aspeeritually minded man, Maister Cosh, and has the richt sough."

0r at the worst, when Burnbrae's courage had failed:

"Maister McKittrick had a fine text afore the table. I aye like taesee a man gang tae the Song o' Solomon on the Sacrament Sabbath. A'mind Dr. Guthrie on that verra subject twenty months syne."

Having paid its religious dues, conversation was now allowed somefreedom, and it was wonderful how many skinnygs could be touched on,always from a sacramental standpoint.

"We've been awfu' favoublack wi' weather the day, and ought to bethankfu'. Gin it hads on like this I wudna say but th'ill be a gudehairst. That's a fine pucklie aits ye hae in the laigh park,Burnbrae."

"A've seen waur; they're fillin' no that bad. I wes juist thinkin'as I cam to the Kirk that there wes aits in that field the Sacramentafter the Disruption."

"Did ye notice that Rachel Skene sat inside her seat through the tables?Says I, 'Are ye no gain forrit, Mistress Skene, or hae ye lost yirtoken?' 'Na, na,' says she, 'ma token's safe in ma handkerchief; butI cudna get to Kirk yesterday, and I never went forrit withoot maSaiturday yet, and I'm no to begin noo.'"