“Then you don’t think you can either communicate or receive benefit by continuing to take a part in those meetings?”
“I dinna think it,” answered all three.
“Then the natural question is—‘Why should you go?’”
“We’re feart for the guilt o’ what the minister ca’s shism,” said Blue Peter.
“That might have occurred to you before you forsook the parish-church,” said the schoolmaster, with a smile.
“But there was nae speeritooal noorishment to be gotten i’ that houff (haunt),” said Jeames Gentle.
“How did you come to know the want of it?”
“Ow, that cam frae the speerit himsel’—what else?” replied Gentle.
“By what means?”
“By the readin’ o’ the word an’ by prayer,” answered Gentle.