Full of motherly forethought, and having a keen remembrance that probationers always retired in the afternoon at Mains to think over the evening's address, and left an impress of the human form on the bed when they came down to tea, Mrs.Pitillo suggested that a sofa would be an admirable addition to the study.

As soon as this piece of furniture, of a size suitable for his six feet, was pointed out to the minister, he took fright, and became quite unmanageable.

He would not have such an article in his study on any account, partly because it would only feed a tendency to sloth--which, he explained, was one of his besetting sins--and partly because it would curtail the space available for books, which, he indicated, were the proper furniture of any room, but chiefly of a study.

So great was his alarm that he repented of too early concessions about the other rooms, and explained to Mrs.Pitillo that every inch of space must be rigidly kept for the overflow from the study, which he expected--if he were spared--would reach the garrets.

Several times on their way back to Kilbogie, Saunderson looked wistfully at Mrs.Pitillo, and once opened his mouth as if to speak, from which she gathered that he was grateful for her kindness, but dared not yield any farther to the luxuries of the flesh.
What this worthy woman endured in securing a succession of reliable housekeepers for Mr.Saunderson and overseeing the interior of that remarkable home, she was never able to explain to her own satisfaction, though she made many honest efforts, and one of her last intelligible utterances was a lamentable prophecy of the final estate of the Free Church manse of Kilbogie.