It was a big room, as big as the minister's ain, an' plenished wi' grand, auld, solid gear, for he had naething else.

There was a fower-posted bed wi' auld tapestry; and a braw cabinet of aik, that was fu' o' the minister's divinity books, an' put there to be out o' the gate; an' a wheen duds o' Janet's lying here and there about the floor.

But nae Janet could Mr.
Soulis see; nor ony sign of a contention.

In he gaed (an' there's few that wad ha'e followed him) an' lookit a' round, an' listened.

But there was naethin' to be heard, neither inside the manse nor in a' Ba'weary parish, an' naethin' to be seen but the muckle shadows turnin' round the can'le.