'This is the worst scrape I have ever got into. I think I would almost as
soon have fallen into the river as have been brought to the Manse, for how
shall I ever face the Minister?'" "Send him in to me, Nelly; and don't
disturb us, till I ring the bell." Nelly did as she was ordered; and
Archie made his appearance with his head bound up, and one of Sandy's
woollen night-caps half drawn over his eyes, as if he wanted to hide them
from the good man, who was now going to address him. As, however, the door
was shut immediately, and there were none present but himself and the
Minister, what Mr. Martin said to him never transpired; only when he left
the study and passed through the kitchen, in his way to go home, Nelly
observed that his eyes were red with weeping; and as he shook hands with
John, he said, "I shall have reason, my little fellow, to bless the night
you found me, and got me brought to the Manse, all my life long, if I can
but remember what the minister has been saying to me; and, after his
kindness, I shall be an ungrateful villain indeed, if ever I forget it;
and that I would not be for all the whiskey in Eskdale. Farewell! And, my
man, if ever you should be tempted to drink more than is good for you,
think on Archie Kerr, last night, and I am sure that will restrain you."




CHAP. VI.


When Mr. Armstrong made his appearance, after breakfast, he said, Helen
was doing as well as he could wish. She was likely to have the disease
very easily; and he hoped, in a few days, would be quite well. "I wish,"
added he, "that poor little Marion Scott may do as well. She is a delicate
creature, and her fever ran very high when I left her yesterday." He