"Not a bit. I was rather blate at holding forth before the principal of St. Andrew's, but I soon forgot it. There is one great pleasure in preaching to a Scotch congregation—you are sure that not a word will be lost by inattention."
"But, Uncle Duncan, I thought you were a medical doctor, and not a D. D.?" said Marion.
"Both, Marie; I preach on Sundays and practice on week-days."
"Then you do more than a good many people," said Uncle Alick.
"Mr. Parmalee will be after you to preach for him next Sunday."
"And I shall do so very willingly, but to-day I shall be very thankful neither to preach nor practice in that sense. Do we walk or ride to church?"
"We walk always in pleasant weather. It is only a mile. Come, children, you must not sit talking any longer, or we shall not be ready."
The walk to church was a very pleasant one down the valley. A good part of the way was by the bank of the clear little river which ran through Holford, and was pleasantly shaded by birch and pine trees, while two or three points gave beautiful views of the mountains which "stood round about" the pretty village.
"'Look how the hills on every side Jerusalem enclose,'"
quoted Doctor Campbell. "I am always reminded of that verse when I come down this road, though these green, shady hills are not much like the arid mountains round Jerusalem."