"You are both perfectly absurd to-night," said Kate, confused and red, "but no Queen ever had truer hearts to love her, and if I cannot make you knights, I must reward you as I can." And Kate, ignoring Carmichael, kissed first her father and then the Doctor. Then she turned on him with a proud air, "What think you of my court, Mr.
Carmichael?"
"It is the best in Christendom, Miss Carnegie"--and his voice trembled with earnestness--"for it has the fairest Queen and two gentlemen of Christ for its servants."
"Very prettily said"--the Doctor thought the little scene had gone far enough--"and as a reward for that courteous speech you shall take Her Majesty in to dinner, and we old battered fellows shall follow in attendance." There was a moment"s silence, and then Carmichael spoke.
"If I had only known, Miss Carnegie, that I might have . . . put on something to do you honour too, but I have nothing except a white silk hood. I wish I had been a Militiaman or . . . a Freemason."
"This is your second remarkable wish in my hearing," and Kate laughed merrily; "last time you wished you were a dog on Muirtown platform.
Your third will be your last, I suppose, and one wonders what it will be."
"It is already in my heart"--Carmichael spoke low--"and some day I will dare to tell it to you."
"Hush," replied Kate quickly, lifting her hand; "the padre is going to say grace." As this was an official function in John"s eyes, that worthy man allowed himself to take a general view, and he was pleased to express his high approval of the company, enlarging especially on Carmichael, whom, as a Free Kirkman, he had been accustomed rather to belittle.
"Of coorse," he explained loyally, "he"s no tae be compared wi" the Doctor, for there"s nae minister ootside the Auld Kirk can hae sic an air, and he "s no set up like the General, but he lookit weel an"
winsome.
"His hair wes flung back frae his forehead, his een were fair dancin", an" there wes a bit o" colour in his cheek. He hes a wy wi" him, a "ll no deny, "at taks wi" fouk.
"A "m no sure that he "s been at mony denners though, Becca, for he hardly kent what he wes daein". A" juist pit the potatoes on his plate, for he never lat on he saw me; an" as for wine, a" cudna get a word oot o" him."
"Ye "re lilted above ordinary concerns, John, an" it"s no tae be expeckit that a beadle sud notice the way o" a lad wi" a la.s.s," and Becca nodded her head with much shrewdness.
"Div ye mean that, Rebecca? That cowes a"; but it"s no possible. The General"s dochter an" a Free Kirk minister, an" her an Esculopian--"
"Love kens naither rank nor creeds; see what ye did yersel", and you beadle o" Drumtochty;" and John--every man has some weak point--swallowed the compliment with evident satisfaction.
Meanwhile they had fallen on this very subject of creeds in the dining-room, and Kate was full of curiosity.
"Will you two padres do me a favour? I knew you would. Well, I want to know for certain what is the difference between the two Kirks in Drumtochty. Now which of you will begin?" and Kate beamed on them both.
"Whatever you wish we will do, Kate," said the Doctor; "but you will have me excused in this matter, if you please, and hear my friend. I am tired of controversy, and he has a fair mind, and, as I know well, a pleasant wit. Tell Miss Carnegie how your people left the Kirk of Scotland."
"Well, the dispute began"--and Carmichael faced his task manfully--"about the appointment of clergymen, whether it should lie with a patron or the people. Lord Kilspindie had the nomination of Drumtochty, and if every patron had been as wise as our house, then there had been no Disruption."
The Doctor bowed, and motioned to Carnegie to fortify himself with port.
"Other patrons had no sense, and put in unsuitable men, and the people rebelled, since it is a sad thing for a country parish to have a minister who is not . . ."
"A gentleman? or straight? Quite so," chimed in Kate; "it must be beastly."
"So a party fought for the rights of the people," resumed Carmichael, "and desired that the parish should have a voice in choosing the man who was to take charge of . . . their souls."
"Isn"t that like soldiers electing their officers?" inquired the General, doubtfully.
"Go on, Carmichael; you are putting your case capitally; don"t plunge into theology, Jack, whatever you do . . . it is Sandeman"s--a sound wine."
"Then what happened?" and Kate encouraged Carmichael with her eyes.
"Four hundred clergymen threw up their livings one day and went out to begin a Free Kirk, where there are no patrons.
"You have no idea--for I suppose you never heard of this before--how ministers suffered, living and dying in miserable cottages--and the people met for service on the sea-sh.o.r.e or in winter storms--all for conscience sake."
Carmichael was glowing, and the Doctor sipped his port approvingly.
"Perhaps they ought not to have seceded, and perhaps their ideas were wrong; but it was heroism, and a good thing for the land."
"It was splendid!" Kate"s cheek flushed. "And Drumtochty?"
"Ah, something happened here that was by itself in Scotland. Will you ask Dr. Davidson not to interrupt or browbeat me? Thank you; now I am safe.
"Some one of influence went to old Lord Kilspindie, who had no love to the Free Kirk, and told him that a few of his Drumtochty men wanted to get a site for a Free Kirk, and that he must give it. And he did."
"Now, Carmichael," began the Doctor, who had scented danger; but Kate held up her hand with an imperious gesture, and Carmichael went on:--
"The same person used to send to the station for the Free Kirk probationer, and entertain him after a lordly fashion--with port, if he were worthy--and send him on his way rejoicing--men have told me.
But," concluded Carmichael, averting his face from the foot of the table, "wild horses will not compel me to give that good Samaritan"s name."
"Was it you, Davidson, that sanctioned such a proceeding? Why, it was mutiny."
"Of course he did, dad," cried Kate; "just the very thing he would do; and so, I suppose, the Free Kirk love him as much as they do yourself, sir?"
"As much? far more . . ."
"Had I known what downright falsehood the Free Kirk minister of Drumtochty was capable of, I would never have allowed him to open his mouth."
"Well, I am satisfied, at any rate," said Kate, "and I propose to retire to the drawing-room, and I know who would love a rubber of whist by-and-by. We are just the number."
A minute later Carmichael asked leave to join Kate, as he believed she was to have him for partner, and he must understand her game.
"How adroit he is to-night, Jack;" but the General rather pitied the lad, with whom he imagined Kate was playing as a cat with a mouse.
"Have you ever seen the face below the veil?" for they did not talk long about whist in the drawing-room. "I do not think it would be wrong to look, for the padre told me the story.
"Yes, a very winning face. His only sister, and he simply lived for her. She was only twelve when she died, and he loves her still, although he hardly ever speaks of her."
They stood together before the happy girl-face enshrined in an old man"s love. They read the inscription: "My dear sister Daisy."
"I never had a sister," and Carmichael sighed.
"And I have now no brother." Their hands met as they gently lowered the veil.
"Well, have you arranged your plans?" and the Doctor came in intent on whist.
"Only one thing. I am going to follow Miss Carnegie"s lead, and she is always to win," said the Free Kirk minister of Drumtochty.