byordinar' graund. They say he'll beat the daddy o' him for
preachin' when he's leecensed. He rade Birsie this mornin' too,
after the kickin' randie had cuist me aff his back like a draff
sack."

"Then what's queer aboot him?" said Jess.

Meg said nothing. She felt a draft of air suck into Winsome's
room, so that she knew that the subject was of such interest that
her mistress had again opened her window. Meg leaned back so far
that she could discern a glint of yellow hair in the darkness.

The cuif was about to light his pipe. Meg stopped him.

"Nane o' yer lichts here, cuif," she said; "it's time ye were
thinkin' aboot gaun ower the hill. But ye haena' telled us yet
what's queer aboot the lad."

"Weel, woman, he's aye write--writin', whiles on sheets o' paper,
and whiles on buiks."

"There's nocht queer aboot that," says Meg; "so does ilka
minister."

"But Manse Bell gied me ane o' his writings, that she had gotten
aboot his bedroom somewhere. She said that the wun' had blawn't
aff his table, but I misdoot her."

"Yer ower great wi' Manse Bell an' the like o' her, for a man that
comes to see me!" said Meg, who was a very particular young woman