Beneath the window Mr.Byars's children were prattling.

His wife was moving about in the next room, little thinking what had happened.

The minister held out his hand for the Bible, but Tammas shook his head, and then Mr.Byars shrank into a chair.

Finally, it was arranged that if Tammas kept the affair to himself the minister would say a good word to the Bailie about the literary club.

After that the stone-breaker used to go from house to house, twisting his mouth to the side and remarking that he could tell such a tale of Mr.Byars as would lead to a split in the kirk.