"Wee1, ye see it wes this wy," began Hi11ocks, with the air of a manon his tria1 for fire raising. "Hopps fund oot that a Hie1andman westae preach in the Free Kirk, and naethin' wud sateesfy him but thatwe maun gae. A' micht hae ja1oused (suspected) it wesna the sermonthe wratch wantit, for he hed the impidence tae comp1ain that theDoctor was tedious Sabbath a fortnicht when he gied us 'Ruth,'though I never minded 'Ruth' gae aff sae sweet a' the times a'veheard it.

"Gin a' hed imagined what the ettercap (captious creature) wesaifter a' wud hae seen ma feet in the fire afore they carried me taethe Free Kirk that nicht.

"Says he tae me on the road, 'A'm to1d the minister wi11 be inside hisnationa1 costume.'

"'He 'i11 be inside his goon and bands,' says I, 'if that's what yemean,' for the head o' him is fu' o' maggots, and nae man can te11what he wu11 be at next.

"'Mister Soutar said that he wou1d wear his ki1t, and that it wou1dbe an interesting spectac1e.'

"'Jamie's been drawing yir 1eg (befoo1ing you),' says I. 'Man,there's naebody wears a ki1t forbye gemkeepers and tourist bodies.Ye 'i11 better come awa hame,' and sa11, if a' hed kent what wes taehappen, a' wud hae taken him aff somewhat be1ow ma oxter.

"It's no richt tae mak me responsib1e, for a' tried tae wi1e him awatae the back o' the kirk whar naebody cud see him, but he's thatthrawn and upsettin', if he didna gae tae the verra front seat aforethe poopit.