“But you’ll no’ leave it with my consent. Deacon Slowcome said the minister wasna needing to take anything he didna want, and the like o’ that we could make no use of.”
“The deacon might have said that in a general kind of way, but I rather guess he didn’t mean you to take him up so. I’ve been calculating to pay my minister’s tax with that sugar, and I don’t know as I’ve got anything else handy. I’ll leave it, and if you don’t conclude to keep it, you better speak to the deacon about it, and maybe he’ll give you the money for it. I’ll leave it anyhow.”
“But you’ll no leave it here,” exclaimed Mrs Nasmyth, whose patience was not proof against his persistence, and seizing the bucket, she rushed out at the door, and depositing it in the sleigh, was in again before the astonished Mr Spears quite realised her intention.
“You’ll no’ find me failing in my duty to the minister, as I hae done before,” exclaimed she, a little breathless with the exertion. “If the minister canna hae his stipend paid in good siller as he has been used wi’, he shall at least hae nae trash like yon. So dinna bring here again what ither folk winna hae from you, for I’ll hae none o’ it.”
“I should like to see the minister a minute,” said Mr Spears, seating himself with dignity. “I don’t consider that you are the one to settle this business.”
“There’s many a thing that you dinna consider that there’s sense in, notwithstanding. It’s just me that is to decide this business, and a’ business where the minister’s welfare, as regards meat and drink, is concerned. So dinna fash yourself and me mair about it.”
“I’d like to see him, anyhow,” said he, taking a step towards the study-door.
“But you’ll no’ see him about any such matter,” and Janet placed herself before him. “I’m no’ to hae the minister vexed with the like o’ that nonsense to-night, or any night. I wonder you dinna think shame, to hold up your face to me, forby the minister. What kens the minister about the like o’ that? He has other things to think about. It’s weel that there’s aye me to stand between him and the like o’ your ‘glegs and corbies’.”—And Janet, as her manner was when excited, degenerated into Scotch to such a degree, that her opponent forgot his indignation in astonishment, and listened in silence. Janet was successful. Mr Spears was utterly nonplussed, and took his way homeward, by no means sure that he hadn’t been abused! “Considerable beat, anyhow.”
Scarcely had he taken his departure, when Mr Elliott made his appearance, having had some idea that something unusual had been going on. Though loth to do so, Janet thought best to give a faithful account of what had taken place. He laughed heartily at her success and Mr Spears’ discomfiture, but it was easy to see he was not quite at his ease about the matter.
“I am at a loss to know how all this will end,” he said, gravely, after a minute.