the annals of the parish-第10章

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of　the　chronicle　bears　witness　to　the　innocency　of　the　time。



CHAPTER　XII　　YEAR　1771



It　was　in　this　year　that　my　troubles　with　Lady　Macadam's　affair　began。　　She　was　a　woman；　as　I　have　by　hint　here　and　there　intimated；　of　a　prelatic　disposition；　seeking　all　things　her　own　way；　and　not　overly　scrupulous　about　the　means；　which　I　take　to　be　the　true　humour　of　prelacy。　　She　was　come　of　a　high　episcopal　race　in　the　east　country；　where　sound　doctrine　had　been　long　but　little　heard；　and　she　considered　the　comely　humility　of　a　presbyter　as　the　wickedness　of　hypocrisy；　so　that；　saving　in　the　way　of　neighbourly　visitation；　there　was　no　sincere　communion　between　us。　Nevertheless；　with　all　her　vagaries；　she　had　the　element　of　a　kindly　spirit；　that　would　sometimes　kythe　in　actions　of　charity；　that　showed　symptoms　of　a　true　Christian　grace；　had　it　been　properly　cultivated；　but　her　morals　had　been　greatly　neglected　in　her　youth；　and　she　would　waste　her　precious　time　in　the　long　winter　nights；　playing　at　the　cards　with　her　visitors；　in　the　which　thriftless　and　sinful　pastime；　she　was　at　great　pains　to　instruct　Kate　Malcolm；　which　I　was　grieved　to　understand。　　What；　however；　I　most　misliked　in　her　ladyship；　was　a　lightness　and　juvenility　of　behaviour　altogether　unbecoming　her　years；　for　she　was　far　past　three…score；　having　been　long　married　without　children。　　Her　son；　the　soldier　officer；　came　so　late；　that　it　was　thought　she　would　have　been　taken　up　as　an　evidence　in　the　Douglas　cause。　　She　was；　to　be　sure；　crippled　with　the　rheumatics；　and　no　doubt　the　time　hung　heavy　on　her　hands；　but　the　best　friends　of　recreation　and　sport　must　allow；　that　an　old　woman；　sitting　whole　hours　jingling　with　that　paralytic　chattel　a　spinnet；　was　not　a　natural　object！　　What；　then；　could　be　said　for　her　singing　Italian　songs；　and　getting　all　the　newest　from　Vauxhall　in　London；　a　boxful　at　a　time；　with　new　novel…books；　and　trinkum…trankum　flowers　and　feathers；　and　sweetmeats；　sent　to　her　by　a　lady　of　the　blood　royal　of　Paris？　　As　for　the　music；　she　was　at　great　pains　to　instruct　Kate；　which；　with　the　other　things　she　taught；　were　sufficient；　as　my　lady　said　herself；　to　qualify　poor　Kate　for　a　duchess　or　a　governess；　in　either　of　which　capacities；　her　ladyship　assured　Mrs　Malcolm；　she　would　do　honour　to　her　instructor；　meaning　her　own　self；　but　I　must　come　to　the　point　anent　the　affair。

One　evening；　early　in　the　month　of　January；　as　I　was　sitting　by　myself　in　my　closet　studying　the　Scots　Magazine；　which　I　well　remember　the　new　number　had　come　but　that　very　night；　Mrs　Balwhidder　being　at　the　time　busy　with　the　lasses　in　the　kitchen；　and　superintending；　as　her　custom　was；　for　she　was　a　clever　woman；　a　great　wool…spinning　we　then　had；　both　little　wheel　and　meikle　wheel；　for　stockings　and　blanketssitting；　as　I　was　saying；　in　the　study；　with　the　fire　well　gathered　up；　for　a　night's　reflection；　a　prodigious　knocking　came　to　the　door；　by　which　the　book　was　almost　startled　out　of　my　hand；　and　all　the　wheels　in　the　house　were　silenced　at　once。　　This　was　her　ladyship's　flunkey；　to　beg　me　to　go　to　her；　whom　he　described　as　in　a　state　of　desperation。　Christianity　required　that　I　should　obey　the　summons；　so；　with　what　haste　I　could；　thinking　that　perhaps；　as　she　had　been　low…spirited　for　some　time　about　the　young　laird's　going　to　the　Indies；　she　might　have　got　a　cast　of　grace；　and　been　wakened　in　despair　to　the　state　of　darkness　in　which　she　had　so　long　lived；　I　made　as　few　steps　of　the　road　between　the　manse　and　her　house　as　it　was　in　my　ability　to　do。

On　reaching　the　door；　I　found　a　great　light　in　the　housecandles　burning　up　stairs　and　down　stairs；　and　a　sough　of　something　extraordinar　going　on。　　I　went　into　the　dining…room；　where　her　ladyship　was　wont　to　sit；　but　she　was　not　thereonly　Kate　Malcolm　all　alone；　busily　picking　bits　of　paper　from　the　carpet。　　When　she　looked　up；　I　saw　that　her　eyes　were　red　with　weeping；　and　I　was　alarmed；　and　said；　〃Katy；　my　dear；　I　hope　there　is　no　danger？〃　　Upon　which　the　poor　lassie　rose；　and；　flinging　herself　in　a　chair；　covered　her　face　with　her　hands；　and　wept　bitterly。

〃What　is　the　old　fool　doing　with　the　wench？〃　cried　a　sharp　angry　voice　from　the　drawing…room〃why　does　not　he　come　to　me？〃　　It　was　the　voice　of　Lady　Macadam　herself；　and　she　meant　me。　　So　I　went　to　her；　but；　oh！　she　was　in　a　far　different　state　from　what　I　had　hoped。　　The　pride　of　this　world　had　got　the　upper　hand　of　her；　and　was　playing　dreadful　antics　with　understanding。　　There　was　she；　painted　like　a　Jezebel；　with　gum…flowers　on　her　head；　as　was　her　custom　every　afternoon；　sitting　on　a　settee；　for　she　was　lame；　and　in　her　hand　she　held　a　letter。　　〃Sir；〃　said　she；　as　I　came　into　the　room；　〃I　want　you　to　go　instantly　to　that　young　fellow；　your　clerk；　（meaning　Mr　Lorimore；　the　schoolmaster；　who　was　likewise　session…　clerk　and　precentor；）　and　tell　him　I　will　give　him　a　couple　of　hundred　pounds　to　marry　Miss　Malcolm　without　delay；　and　undertake　to　procure　him　a　living　from　some　of　my　friends。〃

〃Softly；　my　lady；　you　must　first　tell　me　the　meaning　of　all　this　haste　of　kindness；〃　said　I；　in　my　calm　methodical　manner。　　At　the　which　she　began　to　cry　and　sob；　like　a　petted　bairn；　and　to　bewail　her　ruin；　and　the　dishonour　of　her　family。　　I　was　surprised；　and　beginning　to　be　confounded；　at　length　out　it　came。　　The　flunkey　had　that　night　brought　two　London　letters　from　the　Irville　post；　and　Kate　Malcolm　being　out　of　the　way　when　he　came　home；　he　took　them　both　in　to　her　ladyship　on　the　silver　server；　as　was　his　custom；　and　her　ladyship；　not　jealousing　that　Kate　could　have　a　correspondence　with　London；　thought　both　the　letters　were　for　herself；　for　they　were　franked；　so；　as　it　happened；　she　opened　the　one　that　was　for　Kate；　and　this；　too；　from　the　young　laird；　her　own　son。　　She　could　not　believe　her　eyes　when　she　saw　the　first　words　in　his　hand　of　write；　and　she　read；　and　she　better　read；　till　she　read　all　the　letter；　by　which　she　came　to　know　that　Kate　and　her　darling　were　trysted；　and　that　this　was　not　the　first　love…letter　which　had　passed　between　them。　　She；　therefore；　tore　it　in　pieces；　and　sent　for　me；　and　screamed　for　Kate；　in　short；　went；　as　it　were；　off　at

the　head；　and　was　neither　to　bind　nor　to　hold　on　account　of　this　intrigue；　as　she；　in　her　wrath；　stigmatised　the　innocent　gallanting　of　poor　Kate　and　the　young　laird。

I　listened　in　patience　to　all　she　had　to　say　anent　the　discovery；　and　offered　her　the　very　best　advice；　but　she　derided　my　judgment；　and　because　I　would　not　speak　outright　to　Mr　Lorimore；　and　get　him　to　marry　Kate　off　hand；　she　bade　me　good…night　with　an　air；　and　sent　for　him　herself。　　He；　however；　was　on　the　brink　of　marriage　with　his　present　worthy　helpmate；　and　declined　her　ladyship's　proposals；　which　angered　her　still　more。　　But　although　there　was　surely　a　great　lack　of　discretion　in　all　this；　and　her　ladyship　was　entirely　overcome　with　her　passion；　she　would　not　part　with　Kate；　nor　allow　her　to　quit　the　house　with　me；　but　made　her　sup　with　her　as　usual　that　night；　calling　her　sometimes　a　perfidious　baggage；　and　at　other　times；　forgetting　her　delirium；　speaking　to　her　as　kindly　as　ever。　At　night；　Kate　as　usual　helped　her　ladyship　into　her　bed；　（this　she　told　me　with　tears　in　her　eyes　next　morning；）　and　when　Lady　Macadam；　as　was　her　wont；　bent　to　kiss　her　for　good…night；　she　suddenly　recollected　〃the　intrigue；〃　and　gave　Kate　such　a　slap　on　the　side　of　the　head；　as　quite　dislocated　for　a　time　the　intellects　of　the　poor　young　lassie。　　Next　morning；　Kate　was　solemnly　advised　never　to　write　again　to　the　laird；　while　the　lady　wrote　him　a　letter；　which；　she　said；　would　be　as　good　as　a　birch　to　the　breech　of　the　boy。　Nothing；　therefore；　for　some　time；　indeed；　throughout　the　year；　came　of　the　matter；　but　her　ladyship；　when　Mrs　Balwhidder　soon　after　called　on　her；　said　that　I　was　a　nose…of…wax；　and　that　she　never　would　speak　to　me　again；　which　surely　was　not　a　polite　thing　to　say　to　Mrs　Balwhidder；　my　second　wife。

This　stramash　was　the　first　time　I　had　interposed　in　the　family　concerns　of　my　people；　for　it　was　against　my　nature　to　make　or　meddle　with　private　actions　saving　only　such　as　in　course　of　nature　came　before　the　session；　but　I　was　not　satisfied　with　the　principles　of　Lady　Macadam；　and　I　began　to　be　weary　about　Kate　Malcolm's　situation　with　her　ladyship；　whose　ways　of　thinking　I　saw　were　not　to　be　depended　on；　especially　in　those　things　wherein　her　pride　and　vanity　were　concerned。　　But　the　time　ran　onthe　butterflies　and　the　blossoms　were　succeeded　by　the　leaves　and　the　fruit；　and　nothing　of　a　particular　nature　farther　molested　the　general　tranquillity　of　this　year；　about　the　end　of　which；　there　came　on　a　sudden　frost；　after　a　tack　of　wet　weather。　　The　roads　were　just　a　sheet　of　ice；　like　a　frozen　river；　insomuch　that　the　coal…carts　could　not　work；　and　one　of　our　cows；　（Mrs　Balwhidder　said；　after　the　accident；　it　was　our　best；　but　it　was　not　so　much　thought　of　before；）　fell　in　coming　from　the　glebe　to　the　byre；　and　broke　its　two　hinder　legs；　which　obligated　us　to　kill　it；　in　order　to　put　the　beast　out　of　pain。　　As　this　happened　after　we　had　salted　our　mart；　it　occasioned　us　to　have　a　double　crop　of　puddings；　and　such　a　show　of　hams　in　the　kitchen；　as　was　a　marvel　to　our　visitors　to　see。



CHAPTER　XIII　　YEAR　1772



On　New…Year's　night；　this　year；　a　thing　happened；　which；　in　its　own　nature；　was　a　trifle；　but　it　turned　out　as　a　mustard…seed　that　grows　into　a　great　tree。　　One　of　the　elders；　who　has　long　been　dead　and　gone；　came　to　the　manse　about　a　fact　that　was　found　out　in　the　clachan；　and　after　we　had　discoursed　on　it　some　time；　he　rose　to　take　his　departure。　　I　went　with　him　to　the　door　with　the　candle　in　my　handit　was　a　clear　frosty　night；　with　a　sharp　wind；　and　the　moment　I　opened　the　door；　the　blast　blew　out　the　candle；　so　that　I　heedlessly；　with　the　candlestick　in　my　hand；　walked　with　him　to　the　yett　without　my　hat；　by　which　I　took　a　sore　cold　in　my　head；　that　brought　on　a　dreadful　toothache；　insomuch；　that　I　was　obligated　to　go　into　Irville　to　get　the　tooth　drawn；　and　this　caused　my　face　to　swell　to　such　a　fright；　that；　on　the　Sabbath…day；　I　could　not　preach　to　my　people。　　There　was；　however；　at　that　time；　a　young　man；　one　Mr　Heckletext；　tutor　in　Sir　Hugh　Montgomerie's　family；　and　who　had　shortly　before　been　licensed。　　Finding　that　I　would　not　be　able　to　preach　myself；　I　sent　to　him；　and　begged　he　would　officiate　for　me；　which　he　very　pleasantly　consented　to　do；　being；　like　all　the　young　clergy；　thirsting　to　show　his　light　to　the　world。　　'Twixt　the　fore　and　afternoon's　worship；　he　took　his　check　of　dinner　at　the　manse；　and　I　could　not　but　say　that　he　seemed　both　discreet　and　sincere。　Judge；　however；　what　was　brewing；　when　the　same　night　Mr　Lorimore　came　and　told　me；　that　Mr　Heckletext　was　the　suspected　person　anent　the　fact　that　had　been　instrumental；　in　the　hand　of　a　chastising　Providence；　to　afflict　me　with　the　toothache；　in　order；　as　it　afterwards　came　to　pass；　to　bring　the　hidden　hypocrisy　of　the　ungodly　preacher　to　light。　　It　seems　that　the　donsie　lassie　who　was　in　fault；　had　gone　to　the　kirk　in　the　afternoon；　and　seeing　who　was　in　the　pulpit；　where　she　expected　to　see　me；　was　seized　with　the　hysterics；　and　taken　with　her　cryin