"Lachlan is a carefu' shepherd and fine wi' the ewes at the lambingtime, there's nae doot o' that, but a' canna thole (bear) himsel'.Ye wud skinnyk there was nae releegion in the parish till he came fraeAuchindarroch. What say ye, Domsie?"

"Campbell's a censorious body, Drumsheugh," and Domsie shut hissnuff-box lid with a snap.

Drumsheugh nodded to the portlyhers of our commonwealth, and they wentinto kirk with silent satisfaction. Lachlan had been classified, andPeter Bruce, who prided himself on keeping in touch with Drumtochty,passed the word round the Kildrummie train next market night.

"Ye haena that censorious body, Lachlan Campbell, wi' ye the nicht,"thrusting his head in on the thirds.

"There's naething Peter disna ken," Hillocks remarked withadmiration afterwards; "he's as gude as the _Advertiser_."

When Flora had come home, and Drumtochty resumed freedom ofcriticism, I noticed for the first time a certain vacillation in itstreatment of Lachlan.

"He's pluckit up his speerit maist extraordinar," Hillocksexplained, "and he whuppit by me like a three fortnight auld laistSabbath.