222 The Little Minister

I have a right to do so, I shall tell them what I
have told you.”

“And until you tell them I will keep your
madness to myself, for I warn you that, as soon
as they do know, there will be a vacancy in the
Auld Licht kirk of Thrums.”

“She is a woman,” said Gavin, hesitating,
though preparing to go, “of whom any minister
might be proud.”

“She is a woman,” the doctor roared, “ that no
congregation would stand. Oh, if you will go,
there is your hat.”

Perhaps Gavin’s face was whiter as he left the
house than when he entered it, but there was no
other change. Those who were watching him
decided that he was looking much as usual, ex-
cept that his mouth was shut very firm, from
which they concluded that he had been taking the
doctor to task for smoking. They also noted
that he returned to McQueen’s house within half
an hour after leaving it, but remained no time.

Some explained this second visit by saying
that the minister had forgotten his cravat, and
had gone back for it. What really sent him
back, however, was his conscience. He had said
to McQueen that he helped Babbie to escape
from the soldiers because of her kindness to his
people, and he returned to own that it was a lie.

Gavin knocked at the door of the surgery,
but entered without waiting for a response.
McQueen was no longer stamping through the
room, red and furious. He had even laid aside
his pipe. He was sitting back in his chair,
looking half mournfully, half contemptuously, at