When they got near the place, they heard him groaning most piteously. They
raised him up, and tried to get him to walk between them; but though he
was sensible of the pain of his head, as they supposed by his groans, he
was so completely overcome by liquor, that he could not assist himself in
the least; and after various trials, Mr. Martin desired John, as the only
method of getting their burden to the Manse that he could think of, to go
and bring Bob down some difficulty they at last succeeded in conveying
Archie safe to the house; and the maids, in the mean time, having made up
a bed for him in the kitchen, Mrs. Martin proceeded to examine his wound.
She found it was a pretty deep cut; but not likely to be of any serious
consequence. She therefore, after dressing it, ordered Sandy to put her
patient to bed, and leave him to sleep off the effects of his
intoxication. The family then returned to the parlour, Nelly having first
washed John's face and hands, and made him a little more fit to be seen;
and Mrs. Martin observing that he was still pale from the fright, gave him
a glass of currant wine before he began his catechism.

After the duties of the evening were over, the supper was brought in,
which on Sunday evenings is usually the most abundant meal of any during
the week, and in general the most cheerful; but this night poor Helen's
illness through a damp over the spirits of her parents; and the
nicely-roasted fowl, with fried eggs, Mr. Martin's favourite dish left the
table almost untouched; to the great displeasure of Nelly the cook, who
supposing it arose from a different cause, declared in the kitchen, that
it was scandalous shame for that wicked varlet, Archie Kerr, to disturb
her good master, and keep him from eating his wholesome supper after the
fatigues of the day, by thinking on his great wickedness. "Was there no
other place for him to break his head but just before the Minister's
door?" She was sure if she had seen him fall she would have let him lie.