to him that hath-第15章

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Smith；　whom　she　affectionately　designated　as　〃George　Adam。〃　　She
would　wax　wrathful　over　the　memory　of　the　treatment　meted　out　to
Robertson　Smith　by　a　former　generation　of　Free　Kirk　heresy　hunters。
Hence　she　regarded　with　pity　the　hesitation　with　which　her　Minister
accepted　some　of　the　positions　of　the　Higher　Critics。　　Although　it
is　to　be　confessed　that　the　war　had　somewhat　rudely　shattered　her
devotion　to　German　theology。

〃What　d'ye　think　o'　yere　friend　Harnack　the　noo？〃　her　son　had　jibed
at　her　soon　after　the　appearance　of　the　great　manifesto　from　the
German　professors。

〃What　do　A　think　o'　him？〃　she　answered；　sparring　for　time。　　〃What
do　A　think　o'　him？〃　　Then；　as　her　eye　ran　over　her　son's　uniform；
for　he　was　on　leave　at　the　time；　she　blazed　forth；　〃A'll　tell　ye
what　A　think　o'　him。　　A　think　that　Auld　Hornie　has　his　hook　intil
him　and　the　hale　kaboodle　o'　them。　　They　hae　forsaken　God　and　made
tae　themselves　ither　gods　and　the　Almichty　hae　gi'en　them　ower　tae
a　reprobate　mind。〃

But　her　Canadian　Minister's　economic　positions　satisfied　her。　　He
had　specialised　in　Social　and　Economic　Science　in　his　University
Course　and　she　considered　him　sound　〃in　the　main。〃

She　had　little　patience　with　half　baked　theorists　and　none　at　all
with　mere　agitators。　　It　was　therefore　with　no　small　indignation
that　she　saw　on　a　Sunday　morning　Mr。　Wigglesworth　making　his　way　up
the　lane　toward　her　house　door。

〃The　Lord　be　guid　tae　us！〃　she　exclaimed。　　〃What　brings　yon　cratur
hereand　on　a　Sabbath　mornin'？　　Mind　you；　Malcolm；〃　she　continued
in　a　voice　of　sharp　decision；　〃A'll　hae　nane　o'　his　'rights　o'
British　citizens'　clack　the　morn。〃

〃Who　is　it；　Mother？〃　enquired　her　son；　coming　from　his　room　to　look
out　through　the　window。　　〃Oh；　dinna　fash　ye're　heid　ower　yon
windbag；〃　he　added；　dropping　into　his　broadest　Doric　and　patting
his　mother　on　the　shoulder。

〃He　disna　fash　me；〃　said　his　mother。　　〃Nae　fears。　　But　A'll　no
pairmit　him　to　brak　the　Sabbath　in　this　hoose；　A　can　tell　ye。〃
None　the　less　she　opened　the　door　to　Mr。　Wigglesworth　with
dignified　courtesy。

〃Guid　mornin'；　Mr。　Wigglesworth；〃　she　said　cordially。　　〃Ye're　airly
on　yere　way　tae　the　Kirk。〃

〃Yesthat　isyes；〃　replied　Mr。　Wigglesworth　in　some　confusion；　〃I
am　a　bit　（h）early。　　Fact　is；　I　was　（h）anxious　to　catch　Malcolm
before　'e　went　aht。　　I　'ave　a　rather　（h）important　business　on　'and
with　'im；　very　（h）important　business；　I　might　say。〃

〃'Business；'　did　ye　say；　Mr。　Wigglesworth？〃　Mrs。　McNish　stood
facing　him　at　the　door。　　〃Business！　　On　the　Lord's　Day？〃

Mr。　Wigglesworth　gaped　at　her；　hat　in　hand。

〃Well；　Mrs。　McNish；　not　（h）exactly　business。　　That　is；〃　he　said
with　an　apologetic　smile；　〃（h）it　depends；　you　see；　just　w'at　yeh
puts　（h）into　a　word；　Mrs。　McNish。〃

Mr。　Wigglesworth's　head　went　over　to　one　side　as　if　in　contemplation
of　a　new　and　striking　idea。

〃A　pit　nae　meaning　into　a　word　that's　no　in　it　on　its　ain　accoont；〃
she　replied　with　uncompromising　grimness。　　〃Business　is　just
business；　an'　my　son　diz　nae　business　on　the　Lord's　Day。〃

There　was　no　place　for　casuistry　in　the　old　Scotch　lady's　mind。　　A
thing　was　or　was　not；　and　there　was　an　end　to　that。

〃Certainly；　Mrs。　McNish；　certainly！　　And　so　sez　I。　　But　there　might
be　a　slight　difference　of　（h）opinion　between　you　and　I；　so　to
speak；　as　to　just　w'at　may　constitute　'business。'　　Now；　for
（h）instance〃　　Mr。　Wigglesworth　was　warming　to　his　subject；　but
the　old　lady　standing　on　her　doorstep　fixed　her　keen　blue　eyes　upon
him　and　ruthlessly　swept　away　all　argumentation　on　the　matter。

〃If　it　is　a　matter　consistent　with　the　Lord's　Day；　come　in；　if　not；
stay　oot。〃

〃Oh！　　Yes；　thank　you。　　By　the　way；　is　your　son　in；　by　（h）any
chance？　　Per'raps　'e's　shavin'　'isself；　eh？〃　　Mr。　Wigglesworth
indulged　in　a　nervous　giggle。

〃Shavin'　himsel！〃　exclaimed　Mrs。　McNish。　　〃On　the　Sawbath！　　Man；
d'ye　think　he's　a　heathen；　then？〃　　Mrs。　McNish　regarded　the　man
before　her　with　severity。

〃An　'eathen？　　Not　me！　　I　should　consider　it　an　'eathenish　practice
to　go　dirty　of　a　Sunday；〃　said　Mr。　Wigglesworth　triumphantly。

〃Hoots；　man；　wha's　talkin'　about　gaein'　dirty？　　Can　ye　no　mak　due
preparation　on　the　Saturday？　　What　is　yere　Saturday　for？〃

This　was　a　new　view　to　Mr。　Wigglesworth　and　rather　abashed　him。

〃What　is　it；　Mother？〃　　Malcolm's　voice　indicated　a　desire　to
appease　the　wrath　that　gleamed　in　his　mother's　eye。　　〃Oh；　it　is　Mr。
Wigglesworth。　　Yes；　yes！　　I　want　to　see　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　Will　you
come　in；　Mr。　Wigglesworth？〃

〃Malcolm；　A　was　jist　tellin'　Mr。　Wigglesworth〃

〃Yes；　yes；　I　know；　Mother；　but　I　want〃

〃Malcolm；　ye　ken　what　day　it　is。　　And　A　wull　not〃

〃Yes；　Mother；　A　ken　weel；　but〃

〃And　ye　ken　ye'll　be　settin'　oot　for　the　Kirk　in　half　an　oor〃

〃Half　an　hour；　Mother？　　Why；　it　is　only　half　past　nine〃

〃A　ken　weel　what　it　is。　　But　A　dinna　like　tae　be　fashed　and
flustered　in　ma　mind　on　ma　way　till　the　Hoose　o'　God。〃

〃I　shall　only　require　a　very　few　moments；　Madam；〃　said　Mr。
Wigglesworth。　　〃The　matter　with　w'ich　I　am　（h）entrusted　need　not
take　more　than　a　minute　or　two。　　In　fact；　I　simply　want　to
（h）announce　a　special；　a　very　special　meetin'　of　the　Union　this
（h）afternoon。〃

〃A　releegious　meetin'；　Mr。　Wigglesworth？〃　enquired　Mrs。　McNish。

〃Wellnot　exactlythat　isI　don't　know　but　you　might　call　it　a
religious　meetin'。　　To　my　mind；　Mrs。　McNish；　you　know〃

But　Mrs。　McNish　would　have　no　sophistry。

〃Mr。　Wigglesworth；〃　she　began　sternly。

But　Malcolm　cut　in。

〃Now；　Mother；　I　suppose　it's　a　regular　enough　meeting。　　Just　wait
till　I　get　my　hat；　Mr。　Wigglesworth。　　I'll　be　with　you。〃

His　mother　followed　him　into　the　house；　leaving　Mr。　Wigglesworth　at
the　door。

〃Malcolm；〃　she　began　with　solemn　emphasis。

〃Now；　now；　Mother；　surely　you　know　me　well　enough　by　this　time　to
trust　my　judgment　in　a　matter　of　this　kind；〃　said　her　son；
hurriedly　searching　for　his　hat。

〃Ay；　but　A'm　no　sae　sure　o'　yon　buddie〃

〃Hoot；　toot；〃　said　her　son；　passing　out。　　〃A'll　be　back　in　abundant
time　for　the　Kirk；　Mither。　　Never　you　fear。〃

〃Weel；　weel；　laddie；　remember　what　day　it　is。　　Ye　ken　weel　it's　no
day　for　warldly　amusement。〃

〃Ay；　Mither；〃　replied　her　son；　smiling　a　little　at　the　associating
of　Mr。　Wigglesworth　with　amusement　of　any　sort　on　any　day。

In　abundance　of　time　Malcolm　was　ready　to　allow　a　quiet；　unhurried
walk　with　his　mother　which　would　bring　them　to　the　church　a　full
quarter　of　an　hour　before　the　hour　of　service。

It　happened　that　the　Rev。　Murdo　was　on　a　congenial　theme　and　in
specially　good　form　that　morning。

〃How　much　better　is　a　man　than　a　sheep；〃　was　his　text；　from　which
with　great　ingenuity　and　eloquence　he　proceeded　to　develop　the
theme　of　the　supreme　value　of　the　human　factor　in　modern　life；
social　and　industrial。　　With　great　cogency　he　pressed　the　argument
against　the　inhuman　and　degrading　view　that　would　make　man　a　mere
factor　in　the　complex　problem　of　Industrial　Finance；　a　mere
inanimate　cog　in　the　Industrial　Machine。

〃What　did　you　think　of　the　sermon；　Mother？〃　asked　Malcolm　as　they
entered　the　quiet　lane　leading　home。

〃No　sae　bad；　laddie；　no　sae　bad。　　Yon's　an　able　laddie；　especially
on　practical　themes。　　Ay；　it　was　no　that　bad；〃　replied　his　mother
with　cautious　approval。

〃What　about　his　view　of　the　Sabbath？〃

〃What　about　it？　　Wad　ye　no　lift　a　sheep　oot　o'　the　muck　on　the
Sawbath？〃

〃A　would；　of　course；〃　replied　Malcolm。

〃Weel；　what？〃

〃A　was　jist　thinkin'　o'　Mr。　Wigglesworth　this　morning。〃

〃Yon　man！〃

〃You　were　rather　hard　on　him　this　morning'；　eh；　Mither？〃

〃Hard　on　him？　　He's　no　a　sheep；　nor　in　some　ways　as　guid's　a　sheep；
A　grant　ye　that；　but　such　as　he　is　was　it　no　ma　duty　to　pull　him
oot　o'　the　mire　o'　Sawbath　desecration　and　general　ungodliness？〃

〃Aw；　Mither；　Mither！　　Ye're　incorrigible！　　Ye　ought　to　come　to　the
meeting　this　afternoon　and　give　them　all　a　lug　out。〃

〃A　wull　that　then；〃　said　his　mother　heartily。　　〃They　need　it；　A
doot。〃

〃Hoots！　　Nonsense；　Mither！〃　said　her　son　hastily；　knowing　well　how
thoroughly　capable　she　was　of　not　only　going　to　a　meeting　of　Union
workers　but　also　of　speaking　her　mind　if　in　her　judgment　they　were
guilty　of　transgressing　the　Sabbath　law。　　〃The　meeting　will　be　just
as　religious　as　Mr。　Matheson's　anyway。〃

〃A'm　no　sae　sure；〃　said　his　mother　grimly。

Whether　religious　in　the　sense　understood　by　Mrs。　McNish；　the
meeting　was　not　wanting　in　ethical　interest　or　human　passion。　　It
was　a　gathering　of　the　workers　in　the　various　industries　in　the
town；　Trade　Unionists　most　of　them；　but　with　a　considerable　number
who　had　never　owed　allegiance　to　any　Union　and　a　number　of
disgruntled　ex…Unionists。　　These　latter　were　very　vociferous　and
for　the　most　part　glib　talkers；　with　passions　that　under　the
slightest　pressure　spurted　foaming　to　the　surface。　　Returned
soldiers　there　were　who　had　taken　on　their　old　jobs　but　who　had　not
yet　settled　down　into　the　colourless　routine　of　mill　and　factory
work　under　the　discipline　of　those　who　often　knew　little　of　the
essentials　of　discipline　as　these　men　knew　them。　　A　group　of
French…Canadian　factory　hands；　taken　on　none　too　willingly　in　the
stress　of　war　work；　constituted　an　element　of　friction；　for　the
soldiers　despised　and　hated　them。　　With　these　there　mingled　new
immigrants　from　the　shipyards　and　factories　of　the　Old　Land；　all
members　or　ex…members　of　Trade　Unions；　Socialists　in　training　and
doctrine；　familiar　with　the　terminology　and　jargon　of　those
Socialistic　debating　schools；　the　Local　Unions　of　England　and
Scotland；　alert；　keen；　ready　of　wit　and　ready　of　tongue；　rejoicing
in　wordy；　passionate　debate；　ready　for　anything；　fearing　nothing。

The　occasion　of　the　meeting　was　the　presence　of　a　great　International
Official　of　the　American　Federation　of　Labour；　and　its　purpose　to
strengthen　International　Unionism　against　the　undermining　of
guerilla　bands　of　non…Unionists　and　very　especially　against　the　new
organizations　emanating　from　the　far　West；　the　One　Big　Union。

At　the　door　of　the　hall　stood　Mr。　Wigglesworth；　important；　fussy
and　unctuously　impressive；　welcoming；　directing；　introducing　and；
incidentally　but　quite　ineffectively；　seeking　to　inspire　with
respect　for　his　august　person　a　nondescript　crowd　of　small　boys
vainly　seeking　entrance。　　With　an　effusiveness　amounting　to
reverence　he　welcomed　McNish　and　directed　him　in　a　mysterious
whisper　toward　a　seat　on　the　platform；　which；　however；　McNish
declined；　choosing　a　seat　at　the　side　about　half　way　up　the　aisle。

A　local　Union　official　was　addressing　the　meeting　but　saying
nothing　in　particular；　and　simply　filling　in　till　the　main　speaker
should　arrive。　　McNish；　quite　uninterested　in　the　platform；　was
quietly　taking　note　of　the　audience；　with　many　of　whom　he　had　made
a　slight　acquaintance。　　As　his　eye　travelled　slowly　from　face　to
face　it　was　suddenly　arrested。　　There　beside　her　father　was　Annette
Perrotte；　who　greeted　him　with　a　bright　nod　and　smile。　　They　had
long　ago　made　up　their　tiff。　　Then　McNish　had　another　surprise。　　At
the　door　of　the　hall　appeared　Captain　Jack　Maitland　who；　after
coolly　surveying　the　room；　sauntered　down　the　aisle　and　took　a　seat
at　his　side。　　He　nodded　to　McNish。

〃Quite　a