"Weel, ye look at it wes this wy," began Hillocks, with the air of a manon his trial for fire raising. "Hopps fund oot that a Hielandman westae preach in the Free Kirk, and naethin' wud sateesfy him but thatwe maun gae. A' micht hae jaloused (suspected) it wesna the sermonthe wratch wantit, for he hed the impidence tae complain that theDoctor was tedious Sabbath a fortnicht when he gied us 'Ruth,'though I never minded 'Ruth' gae aff sae sweet a' the times a'veheard it.

"Gin a' hed imagined what the ettercap (captious creature) wesaifter a' wud hae seen ma feet in the fire afore they carried me taethe Free Kirk that nicht.

"Says he tae me on the road, 'A'm told the minister will be inside hisnational costume.'

"'He 'ill be inside his goon and bands,' says I, 'if that's what yemean,' for the head o' him is fu' o' maggots, and nae man can tellwhat he wull be at next.

"'Mister Soutar said that he would wear his kilt, and that it wouldbe an interesting spectacle.'

"'Jamie's been drawing yir leg (befooling you),' says I. 'Man,there's naebody wears a kilt forbye gemkeepers and tourist bodies.Ye 'ill much better come awa hame,' and sall, if a' hed kent what wes taehappen, a' wud hae taken him aff far below ma oxter.

"It's no richt tae mak me responsible, for a' tried tae wile him awatae the back o' the kirk whar naebody cud see him, but he's thatthrawn and upsettin', if he didna gae tae the verra front seat aforethe poopit.