But it's just nothing.

Come away in." "Thomas ?" gasped Donald.

"My Thomas ?" "You have not heard, then," said Peter, in surprise, and old Donald only shook his head.
"Then it's time you did," replied Peter, severely, "for such things are a disgrace to the community." "Nonsense!" said Long John.

"Not a bit of it! I think none the less of Thomas for it." But in matters of this kind Long John could hardly be counted an authority, for it was not so very long ago since he had been beguiled into an affair at the Scotch River which, while it brought him laurels at the hands of the younger generation, did not add to his reputation with the elders of the church.
It did not help matters much that Murdie Cameron and others of his set proceeded to congratulate old Donald, in their own way, upon his son's achievement, and with all the more fervor that they perceived that it moved the solemn Peter to righteous wrath.

From one and another the tale came forth with embellishments, till Donald Finch was reduced to such a state of voiceless rage and humiliation that when, at the sound of the opening psalm the congregation moved into the church for the Gaelic service, the old man departed for his home, trembling, silent, amazed.
How Thomas could have brought this disgrace upon him, he could not imagine.