"No!" said Mary, very decidedly.
"What for no'?" asked the Sergeant, kindly.
"I'm awfu' frichtened for him," said Mary.
"Why are ye frichtened for Him?" asked Adam.
Mary seemed to be counting the buttons on his coat.
"Tell me, bairn!" he continued.
"Because," said Mary, sorrowfully, yet encouraged by his tone, "Mrs. Craigie aye telt me He wad sen' me to the bad place; and when I got my fit burned she said that I wad be a' burnt thegither some day, as I was a bad lassie; and I'm sure I wasna' doing her ony ill to mak' her say that."
"God will never," remarked the Sergeant, reverently, "send ye to the bad place, unless ye gang yersel'."
"I'll never do that!" exclaimed Mary.
"I hope no', my lassie," said Adam, "for I wish you no' to be bad, but to be good; and to trust God is the way to be good. Noo tell me, Mary, why wad ye trust me?"