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work the former out to a logical perdition of everything belonging
to the latter。
Hugh； however； thought it was all right： for he had the same good
reasons； and no other； for receiving it all； that a Mohammedan or a
Buddhist has for holding his opinions； namely； that he had heard
those doctrines； and those alone； from his earliest childhood。 He
was therefore a good deal startled when； having； on his way home；
strayed from the laird's party towards David's； he heard the latter
say to Margaret as he came up：
〃Dinna ye believe； my bonny doo； 'at there's ony mak' ups or mak'
shifts wi' Him。 He's aye bringin' things to the licht； no covenin'
them up and lattin them rot； an' the moth tak' them。 He sees us
jist as we are； and ca's us jist what we are。 It wad be an ill day
for a' o's； Maggy； my doo； gin he war to close his een to oor sins；
an' ca' us just in his sicht； whan we cudna possibly be just in oor
ain or in ony ither body's； no to say his。〃
〃The Lord preserve's； Dawvid Elginbrod！ Dinna ye believe i' the
doctrine o' Justification by Faith； an' you a'maist made an elder
o'？〃
Janet was the respondent； of course； Margaret listening in silence。
〃Ou ay； I believe in't； nae doot； but； troth！ the minister； honest
man； near…han' gart me disbelieve in't a'thegither wi' his gran'
sermon this mornin'； about imputit richteousness； an' a clean robe
hidin' a foul skin or a crookit back。 Na； na。 May Him 'at woosh
the feet o' his friens； wash us a'thegither； and straucht oor
crookit banes； till we're clean and weel…faured like his ain bonny
sel'。〃
〃Weel； Dawvidbut that's sanctificaition； ye ken。〃
〃Ca't ony name 'at you or the minister likes； Janet； my woman。 I
daursay there's neither o' ye far wrang after a'； only this is jist
my opingan aboot it in sma'that that man； and that man only； is
justifeed； wha pits himsel' into the Lord's han's to sanctifee him。
Noo！ An' that'll no be dune by pittin' a robe o' richteousness
upo' him； afore he's gotten a clean skin aneath't。 As gin a father
cudna bide to see the puir scabbit skin o' his ain wee bit bairnie；
ay； or o' his prodigal son either； but bude to hap it a' up afore he
cud lat it come near him！ Ahva！〃
Here Hugh ventured to interpose a remark。
〃But you don't think； Mr。 Elginbrod； that the minister intended to
say that justification left a man at liberty to sin； or that the
robe of Christ's righteousness would hide him from the work of the
Spirit？〃
〃Na； but there is a notion in't o' hidin' frae God himsel'。 I'll
tell ye what it is Mr。 Sutherlan'： the minister's a' richt in
himsel'； an' sae's my Janet here； an' mony mair； an' aiblins there's
a kin' o' trowth in a' 'at they say； but this is my quarrel wi' a'
thae words an' words an' airguments； an' seemilies as they ca' them；
an' doctrines； an' a' thatthey jist haud a puir body at airm's
lenth oot ower frae God himsel'。 An' they raise a mist an' a stour
a' aboot him； 'at the puir bairn canna see the Father himsel'；
stan'in' wi' his airms streekit oot as wide's the heavens； to tak'
the worn crater；and the mair sinner； the mair welcome；hame to
his verra hert。 Gin a body wad lea' a' that； and jist get fowk
persu鈊it to speyk a word or twa to God him lane； the loss； in my
opingan； wad be unco sma'； and the gain verra great。〃
Even Janet dared not reply to the solemnity of this speech； for the
seer…like look was upon David's face； and the tears had gathered in
his eyes and dimmed their blue。 A kind of tremulous pathetic smile
flickered about his beautifully curved mouth； like the glimmer of
water in a valley； betwixt the lofty aquiline nose and the powerful
but finely modelled chin。 It seemed as if he dared not let the
smile break out； lest it should be followed instantly by a burst of
tears。
Margaret went close up to her father and took his hand as if she had
been still a child； while Janet walked reverentially by him on the
other side。 It must not be supposed that Janet felt any uneasiness
about her husband's opinions； although she never hesitated to utter
what she considered her common…sense notions； in attempted
modification of some of the more extreme of them。 The fact was
that； if he was wrong； Janet did not care to be right； and if he was
right； Janet was sure to be； 〃for；〃 said sheand in spirit； if not
in the letter； it was quite true〃I never mint at contradickin'
him。 My man sall hae his ain get； that sall he。〃 But she had one
especial grudge at his opinions； which was； that it must have been
in consequence of them that he had declined； with a queer smile； the
honourable position of Elder of the Kirk； for which Janet considered
him； notwithstanding his opinions； immeasurably more fitted than any
other man 〃in the haill country…sideye may add Scotlan' forby。〃
The fact of his having been requested to fill the vacant place of
Elder； is proof enough that David was not in the habit of giving
open expression to his opinions。 He was looked upon as a douce man；
long…headed enough； and somewhat precise in the exaction of the
laird's rights； but open…hearted and open…handed with what was his
own。 Every one respected him； and felt kindly towards him； some
were a little afraid of him； but few suspected him of being
religious beyond the degree which is commonly supposed to be the
general inheritance of Scotchmen； possibly in virtue of their being
brought up upon oatmeal porridge and the Shorter Catechism。
Hugh walked behind the party for a short way； contemplating them in
their Sunday clothes： David wore a suit of fine black cloth。 He
then turned to rejoin the laird's company。 Mrs。 Glasford was
questioning her boys； in an intermittent and desultory fashion；
about the sermon。
〃An' what was the fourth heid； can ye tell me； Willie？〃
Willie； the eldest； who had carefully impressed the fourth head upon
his memory； and had been anxiously waiting for an opportunity of
bringing it out； replied at once：
〃Fourthly： The various appellations by which those who have indued
the robe of righteousness are designated in Holy Writ。〃
〃Weel done； Willie！〃 cried the laird。
〃That's richt； Willie；〃 said his mother。 Then turning to the
younger； whose attention was attracted by a strange bird in the
hedge in front。 〃An' what called he them； Johnnie； that put on the
robe？〃 she asked。
〃Whited sepulchres；〃 answered Johnnie； indebted for his wit to his
wool…gathering。
This put an end to the catechising。 Mrs。 Glasford glanced round at
Hugh； whose defection she had seen with indignation； and who；
waiting for them by the roadside； had heard the last question and
reply； with an expression that seemed to attribute any defect in the
answer； entirely to the carelessness of the tutor； and the
withdrawal of his energies from her boys to that 〃saucy quean； Meg
Elginbrod。〃
CHAPTER IX。
NATURE。
When the Soul is kindled or enlightened by the Holy Ghost； then it
beholds what God its Father does； as a Son beholds what his Father
does at Home in his own House。JACOB BEHMEN'S AuroraLaw's
Translation。
Margaret began to read Wordsworth； slowly at first； but soon with
greater facility。 Ere long she perceived that