Neither dared move.

Gloaming had stolen into the valley when Dite Deuchars of Tilliedrum rose to his feet and deliberately spat upon the coffin.

A stone whizzed through the air; and then the ugly spectacle was presented, in the grey night, of a dozen mutes fighting with their poles over a coffin.

There was blood on the shoulders that bore Tammas's remains to Thrums.
After that meeting Tilliedrum lived for the Fast Day.

Never, perhaps, was there a community more given up to sin, and Thrums felt "called" to its chastisement.