my affairs? Come out of that directly."

"Huly, huly, sir!" returned Malcolm, in terror lest he should
discover who was with him.

"You low bred rascal! Who have you there with you?"

As he spoke Mr Crathie would have forced his way into the dusky
chamber, where he could just perceive a motionless undefined
form. But stiff as a statue Malcolm kept his stand, and the door
was immovable. Mr Crathie gave a second and angrier push, but the
youth's corporeal as well as his mental equilibrium was hard to
upset, and his enemy drew back in mounting fury.

"Get out of there," he cried, "or I'll horsewhip you for a damned
blackguard."

"Whup awa'," said Malcolm, "but in here ye s' no come the nicht."

The factor rushed at him, his heavy whip upheaved--and the same
moment found himself, not in the room, but lying on the flower bed
in front of it. Malcolm instantly stepped out, locked the door,
put the key in his pocket, and turned to assist him. But he was up
already, and busy with words unbefitting the mouth of an elder of
the kirk.

"Didna I say 'at ye sudna come in, sir? What for wull fowk no tak'
a tellin'?" expostulated Malcolm.

But the factor was far beyond force of logic or illumination of