Then he added: "But maybe ye ken whether ye've got a sinfu' heart or no."
"It's no that," said Tammas hastily, "I'm nae worse than some other elders I ken," and he glanced at Jake Tosh. "No, it's no the sin I'm thinkin' o'; it's my trade."
"But," I put in, "why shouldn't a joiner be an elder?"
Tammas bit off a chunk of Bogie Roll.
"That may as may be, dominie, but I'm mair than a joiner; I'm an undertakker."
"Weel," said Dauvit, "what aboot that?"
Tammas shook his head sadly.
"An undertakker canna be an elder, Dauvit. Suppose the minister was awa preachin' or at the Assembly, and ane o' his congregation was deein', me as an elder micht hae to ging to the bedside and offer up a bit prayer."
"There's nothing in that," said Jake proudly; "I've offered up a bit prayer afore noo when the minister was awa."
"Aye, Jake," said Tammas, "but ye see you're a roadman. But an undertakker is a different matter. Goad, lads, I canna gie a man a bit prayer at sax o'clock and syne measure him for his coffin at acht. That wud look like mixin' religion wi' business."