"My ignorance!" exclaimed the minister. "It's come to a pretty pass indeed, if you are to blame it, or remove it! Ignorance of what, pray?"
"Your ignorance, Mr. Porteous," continued the Sergeant, "on a point which I should have made known to you, and for which I alone and not you are in faut."
The minister seemed relieved by this admission.
The Sergeant forthwith told the story of the starling as the playmate of his child, the history of whose sickness and death was already known to Mr. Porteous; and having concluded, he said, "That's the reason, sir, why I couldna kill the bird. I wadna tell this to ony man but to yersel', for it's no' my fashion tae sen' the drum aboot the toon for pity or for sympathy; but I wish you, sir, to ken what's fac, for yer ain guidance and the guidance o' the Session."
"I remember your boy well," remarked Mr. Porteous, handing his snuff-box in a very kindly way to his visitor.
The Sergeant nodded. "Ye did your duty, minister, to us on that occasion, or I wadna have come here the nicht. I kent ye wad like onything Charlie was fond o'."
"I quite understand your feelings, Sergeant, and sympathise with them."
The Sergeant smiled, and nodded, and said, "I hope ye do, sir; I was sure ye would. I'm thankfu' I cam', and sae will Katie be." The burden was lifting off his heart.
"But," said Mr. Porteous, after a pause and a long snuff, "I must be faithful with you, Adam: 'First pure, then peaceable,' you know."
"And I hope, sir," said Adam, "'easy to be entreated.'"