Various Bodies Converging 321

“Do you see anything strange in the nicht,
Rob?” Tosh asked, apprehensively.

“It’s setting to rain,’ Dow replied. “I dinna
see it, but I feel it.”

“Ay,” said Tosh, eagerly, “but will it be a
saft, cowdie sweet ding-on?”’

“ Let the heavens open if they will,” interposed
Spens, recklessly. “I would swop the drought
for rain, though it comes down in a sheet as in
the year twelve.”

“And like a sheet it'll come,” replied Dow,
“and the deil’ll blaw it about wi’ his biggest
bellowses.”’

Tosh shivered, but Whamond shook him
roughly, saying:

“* Keep your oaths to yoursel’, Rob Dow, and
tell me, hae you seen Mr. Dishart?”

“J hinna,” Rob answered, curtly, preparing to
drive on.

“‘ Nor the lassie they call the Egyptian?”

Rob leaped from the dog-cart, crying, “ What
does that mean?”

“ Hands. off,” said the precentor, retreating
from him. “It means that Mr. Dishart neg-
lected the prayer-meeting this nicht to philander
after that heathen woman.”

“We're no sure o’t, Tammas,”’ remonstrated
the kirk officer. Dow stood quite still. “I
believe Rob kens it’s true,’ Hendry added,
sadly, “or he would hae flown at your throat,
Tammas Whamond, for saying these words.”

Even this did not rouse Dow.

“ Rob doesna worship the minister as he used
to do,” said Spens.

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