386 The Little Minister

bobbed up in their beds as I entered, but more
vexing to me was Wearyworld on a stool.

“In by, dominie,” he said, sociably. “Sal,
you needna fear burning wi’ a’ that water on you.
You’re in mair danger o’ coming a-boil.”

“] want to speak to you alone, Hendry,” I
said, bluntly.

“You winna put me out, Hendry?” the
alarmed policeman entreated. ‘“ Mind, you said
in sic weather you would be friendly to a brute
beast. Ay, ay, dominie, what’s your news? It’s
welcome, be it good or bad. You would meet
the townsfolk in the glen, and they would tell
you about Mr. Dishart. What, you hinna heard?
Oh, sirs, he’s a lost man. There would hae been
a meeting the day to depose him if so many
hadna gaen to the glen. But the morn’ll do as
weel. The very women is cursing him, and the
laddies has begun to gather stanes. He’s married
on an Egyp—”

“ Hendry!” I cried, like one giving an order.

“ Wearyworld, step!” said Hendry, sternly,
and then added, soft-heartedly : “ Here’s a bit
news that'll open Mysy Moncur’s door to you.
You can tell her frae me that the bell’s ringing
just because I forgot to tie it up last nicht, and
the wind’s shaking it, and I winna gang out in the
rain to stop it.”

“ Ay,” the policeman said, looking at me sulk-
ily, “she may open her door for that, but it'll no
let me in. Tell me mair. Tell me wha the
leddy at the manse is.”

“Out you go,” answered Hendry. “Once
she opens the door, you can shove your foot in,