"A'll dae ma best," and Jessie declared that Burnbrae had been as kind as if she had been "his ain bairn," and that she "wasna feared ava." But her trial is not over; the worst is to come.
Lachlan began where Burnbrae ended, and very soon had Jessie on the rack.
"How old will you be?"
"Auchteen next Martinmas."
"And why will you be coming to the sacrament?"
"Ma mither thocht it was time," with a threatening of tears as she looked at the face in the corner.
"Ye will maybe tell the Session what hass been your 'lawwork' and how long ye hef been at Sinai."
"A' dinna ken what yir askin'. I was never oot o' Drumtochty," and
Jessie breaks down utterly.
"A' dinna think, Moderator, we ocht tae ask sic questions," broke in Burnbrae, who could not see a little one put to confusion; "an' I canna mind them in the Gospels. There's ae commandment Jessie keeps weel, as a' can testeefy, and that's the fifth, for there's no a better dochter in Drumtochty. A' move, Moderator, she get her token; dinna greet, puir woman, for ye've dune weel, and the Session's rael satisfeed."
"It wass Dr. John's mark I wass trying the girl by," explained Lachlan after Jessie had gone away comforted. "And it iss a goot mark, oh yes, and very searching.