Shall I bring tea into the dining-room, or would you rather have it in the study ?" But she did not once glance past his aunt to Carmichael, who was gazing in silence at this composed young woman in the doorway.
"This is Sarah, John, who hes come to keep yir house," and his aunt stepped back.

"Sarah, this is my dear laddie, the minister." Perhaps because her eyes were of a flashing black that pierced one like a steel blade, Sarah usually looked down in speaking to you, but now she gave Carmichael one swift, comprehensive look that judged him soul and body, then her eyes fell, and her face, always too hard and keen, softened.
"I will try, sir, to make you comfortable, and you will tell me anything that is wrong." "You took us by surprise, Sarah," and Carmichael, after his hearty fashion, seized his housekeeper's hand; "let me bid you welcome to the manse.

I hope you will be happy here, and not feel lonely." But the housekeeper only bowed, and turned to his aunt.
"Dinner at six?
As you were not in, and it did not seem any use consulting the woman that was here, I am preparing for that hour." "Well, ye see, Sarah, we have just been taking tea, with something to it, but if--" "Gentlemen prefer evening dinner, ma'am." "Quite right, Sarah," burst in Carmichael in great glee; "tea-dinner is the most loathsome meal ever invented, and we 'll never have it in the Free Manse.
"That is an admirable woman, auntie," as Sarah disappeared, "with sound views on important subjects.

I 'll never ask again where she came from; she is her own testimonial." "You mauna be extravagant, John; Sarah hes never seen a manse before, and I must tell her not to--" "Ruin me, do you mean, by ten courses every evening, like the dinners West-end philanthropists used to give our men to show them how to behave at table?
We 'll be very economical, only having meat twice a week--salt fish the other days--but it will always be dinner." "What ails you at tea-dinner, John?
it's very tasty and homely." "It's wicked, auntie, and has done more injury to religion than drinking.

No, I'm not joking--that is a childish habit--but giving utterance to profound truth, which ought to be proclaimed on the house-tops, or perhaps in the kitchens.
"Let me explain, and I 'll make it as plain as day--all heresy is just bad thinking, and that comes from bad health, and the foundation of health is food.