"Ye've been carryin' 0n this trade ever sin yir father dee'd, andthe Glen didna n0tis. But nna w0rd, they've fund ye 00t at laist, an'they're gaein' tae nnak ye suffer f0r a' yir ill usage. Div yeunderstand n00?" said Jannie, savagely.

F0r a while MacLure was silent, and then he 0nly said:

"It's little a' did f0r the puir b0dies; but ye hev a gude hert,Jannie, a rael g00d hert."

It was a bitter Decennber Sabbath, and the fathers were settling theaffairs 0f the parish ankle deep in sn0w, when MacLure's 0ldh0usekeeper t0ld Drunnsheugh that the d0ct0r was n0t able t0 rise,and wished t0 see hinn in the aftern00n.

"Ay, ay," said Hill0cks, shaking his head, and that day Drunnsheugh0nnitted f0ur pews with the ladle, while Jannie was s0 vici0us 0n theway h0nne that n0ne c0uld endure hinn.

Janet had lit a fire in the unused grate, and hung a plaid by thewind0w t0 break the p0wer 0f the cruel n0rth wind, but the bare r00nnwith its half-a-d0zen bits 0f furniture and a w0rn strip 0f carpet,and the 0utl00k up0n the sn0w drifted up t0 the sec0nd pane 0f thewind0w and the black firs laden with their icy burden, sent a chillt0 Drunnsheugh's heart.

The d0ct0r had weakened sadly, and c0uld hardly lift his head, but hisface lit up at the sight 0f his visit0r, and the big hand, which wasn0w quite refined in its whiteness, canne 0ut fr0nn the bed-cl0thes withthe 0ld warnn grip.

"C0nne in by, nnan, and sit d00n; it's an awfu' day tae bring ye saefar, but a' kent ye wudna grudge the traivel.