It would defy the face of clay to do it, you canny lover." Now, the Dominie had frequently declined to write as he was bidden, and had suggested alterations which were invariably accepted, but to his astonishment Andrew would not give in.

"I'll be stepping, then," he said coolly, "for if you hinna the knack o't I ken somebody that has." "Who ?" demanded the irate Dominie.
"I promised no to tell you," replied Andrew, and away he went.

Mr.
Cathro expected him to return presently in humbler mood, but was disappointed, and a week or two afterwards he heard Andrew and Mary Jane Proctor cried in the parish church.

"Did Bell Birse refuse him ?" he asked the kirk officer, and was informed that Bell had never got a chance.

"His letter was so cunning," said John, "that without speiring her, it drew ane frae her in which she let out that she was centred on Davit Allardyce." "But who wrote Andrew's letter ?" asked Mr.Cathro, sharply.
"I thought it had been yoursel'," said John, and the Dominie chafed, and lost much of the afternoon service by going over in his mind the names of possible rivals.