“We oucht tae be thankfu' that Sandie 's been kept in the battle. Think o' yir son win-nin' the Victoria Cross, wumman, an' ye 'ill see it on his breist.
“An' oor lassie's safe, Jean... in the Auld Hame, an'... we 'ill sune be gaein' oorsels an'... the 'ill be nae pairtin' there.
“Ye hae me, Jean, an' a' hae ma ain gude wife, an' luve is mair than a' the things a man can see wi' his een or haud in his hands. Sae dinna be cast doon, lass, for nae hand can touch oor treasures or tak awa' oor luve.”
When Jean was comforted, Burnbrae gathered his household together in the kitchen, and he chose the portion from the tenth chapter of St. Matthew's Gospel:
“Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven.”
As Burnbrae read the last words he lifted up his head, and it seemed even unto the serving girls as if he had received a crown.
They had the right to occupy their old home till Martinmas, but Jean had begun to fret, wandering through the empty “houses” and brooding over the coming trial.
“A' canna help it, John; the Almichty made a woman different from a man, an' the 'ill be nae peace for me till we be oot o' Burnbrae.
“Ma wark here's feenished, an' it's no like hame ony mair. A' wish the flittin' were ower an' you an' me were settled whar we 'ill end oor days.”
Burnbrae had found a little place near Kildrummie that would leave him within reach of his kirk, which he had loved at a great cost, and his old neighbours, to whom he was knit with new ties.