Elspeth reported the proceedings with the kite, and Jamie was full of anxiety.
“Tell Tammie tae pit on a heavier clod and keep tuggin',” till a shout came in through the door.
“It's near oot o' sicht,” and then Jamie was at peace.
“Bairns are an' awfu' trachle (trouble),” he moralised; “a' canna mak oot hoo fouk pit up wi' them; that lassie Mitchell is juist a hempie.”
Next morning Jamie declined conversation, and lay to all appearance unconscious, so that when the Free Kirk minister came, between whom and Jamie there had been a special friendship since the day Carmichael had declared his conviction on Posty's future state, Elspeth led him in on tip-toe and spoke in a whisper.
“Ou aye, a' kent ye wud be concerned, for you an' he were chief (friendly); he's been this wy a' day, naither better nor worse; juist leevin' that's a'; he 'ill never speak again.”
“I have been at the Glasgow sacrament,” and Carmichael went over to the fire-place; “else I would have come up before. Jamie has always been very kind to me. It 's sad to see him lying there speechless, who had the cleverest tongue in the Glen.”
“Ay, ay, he 's past speech noo; he hears naething.”
“Wes 't a vawcancy ye were preachin' in,” a loud, clear voice proceeded from the bed, “or juist helpin' a freend?”
“Preserve's a' body an' soul,” cried Elspeth; and Carmichael himself was shaken.