a boy.

"You may think my curiosity mere impertinence, sir," said he; "you
would think otherwise if you knew as much as I do of Squire Rattray's
friends, and how little you resemble the generality of them. You
might even feel some sympathy for one of the neighboring clergy, to
whom this godless young man has been for years as a thorn in their
side."

He spoke so gravely, and what he said was so easy to believe, that
I could not but apologize for my hasty words.

"Don't name it, sir," said the clergyman; "you had a perfect right
to resent my questions, and I enjoy meeting young men of spirit;
but not when it's an evil spirit, such as, I fear, possesses your
friend! I do assure you, sir, that the best thing I have heard of
him for years is the very little that you have told me. As a rule,
to hear of him at all in this part of the world, is to wish that
we had not heard. I see him coming, however, and shall detain you
no longer, for I don't deny that there is no love lost between us."

I looked round, and there was Rattray on the top of the bank, a
long way to the left, coming towards me with a waving hat. An
extraordinary ejaculation brought me to the right-about next instant.

The old clergyman had slipped on a stone in mid-stream, and, as he
dragged a dripping leg up the opposite bank, he had sworn an oath
worthy of the "godless young man" who had put him to flight, and
on whose demerits he had descanted with so much eloquence and
indignation.