“I had forgotten you was a Highlandman yoursel’, Duncan,” Waster Lunny said nervously; but Elspeth, who had come to us unnoticed, ordered the shepherd to return to the hillside, which he did haughtily.

“How did you no lay haud on that blast o’ wind, Lauchlan Campbell,” asked Elspeth of her husband, “and speir at him what had happened at the Spittal?  A quarrel afore a marriage brings ill luck.”

“I’m thinking,” said the farmer, “that Rintoul’s making his ain ill luck by marrying on a young leddy.”

“A man’s never ower auld to marry,” said Elspeth.

“No, nor a woman,” rejoined Waster Lunny, “when she gets the chance.  But, Elspeth, I believe I can guess what has fired that fearsome piper.  Depend upon it, somebody has been speaking disrespectful about the crittur’s ancestors.”

“His ancestors!” exclaimed Elspeth, scornfully.  “I’m thinking mine could hae bocht them at a crown the dozen.”

“Hoots,” said the farmer, “you’re o’ a weaving stock, and dinna understand about ancestors.  Take a stick to a Highland laddie, and it’s no him you hurt, but his ancestors.  Likewise it’s his ancestors that stanes you for it.  When Duncan stalked awa the now, what think you he saw?  He saw a farmer’s wife dauring to order about his ancestors; and if that’s the way wi’ a shepherd, what will it be wi’ a piper that has the kilts on him a’ day to mind him o’ his ancestors ilka time he looks down?”

Elspeth retired to discuss the probable disturbance at the Spittal with her family, giving Waster Lunny the opportunity of saying to me impressively—­

“Man, man, has it never crossed you that it’s a queer thing the like o’ you and me having no ancestors?  Ay, we had them in a manner o’ speaking, no doubt, but they’re as completely lost sicht o’ as a flagon lid that’s fallen ahint the dresser.  Hech, sirs, but they would need a gey rubbing to get the rust off them now, I’ve been thinking that if I was to get my laddies to say their grandfather’s name a curran times ilka day, like the Catechism, and they were to do the same wi’ their bairns, and it was continued in future generations, we micht raise a fell field o’ ancestors in time.  Ay, but Elspeth wouldna hear o’t.  Nothing angers her mair than to hear me speak o’ planting trees for the benefit o’ them that’s to be farmers here after me; and as for ancestors, she would howk them up as quick as I could plant them.  Losh, dominie, is that a boot in your hand?”

To my mortification I saw that I had run out of the school-house with the boot on my hand as if it were a glove, and back I went straightway, blaming myself for a man wanting in dignity.  It was but a minor trouble this, however, even at the time; and to recall it later in the day was to look back on happiness, for though I did not know it yet, Lauchlan’s playing raised the curtain on the great act of Gavin’s life, and the twenty-four hours had begun, to which all I have told as yet is no more than the prologue.