But he could not get rid of the notion that he had
smelt sulphur.
CHAPTER LIII: THE SCHOOLMASTER’S COTTAGE
The following night, three of the Scaurnose fishermen—Blue
Peter, Bow o’ meal, and Jeames Gentle—called
at the schoolmaster’s cottage in the Alton,
and were soon deep in earnest conversation with him
around his peat fire, in the room which served him
for study, dining room, and bed chamber. All
the summer a honeysuckle outside watched his back
window for him; now it was guarded within by a few
flowerless plants. It was a deep little window
in a thick wall, with an air of mystery, as if thence
the privileged might look into some region of strange
and precious things. The front window was comparatively
commonplace, with a white muslin curtain across the
lower half. In the middle of the sanded floor
stood a table of white deal, much stained with ink.
The green painted doors of the box bed opposite the
hearth stood open, revealing a spotless white counterpane.
On the wall beside the front window hung by red cords
three shelves of books; and near the back window stood
a dark, old fashioned bureau, with pendant brass handles
as bright as new, supporting a bookcase with glass
doors, crowded with well worn bindings. A few
deal chairs completed the furniture.
“It’s a sair vex, sir, to think o’
what we a’ jeedged to be the wark o’ the
speerit takin’ sic a turn! I’m feart
it ’ll lie heavy at oor door,” said Blue
Peter, after a sketch of the state of affairs.
“I don’t think they can have sunk so low
as the early Corinthian Church yet,” said Mr
Graham, “and St. Paul never seems to have blamed
himself for preaching the gospel to the Corinthians.”
“Weel, maybe!” rejoined Mair. “But,
meantime, the practical p’int is—are
we to tyauve (struggle) to set things richt again,
or are we to lea’ them to their ain devices?”
“What power have you to set things right?”
“Nane, sir. The Baillies’ Barn ’s
as free to them as to oorsel’s.”
“What influence have you, then?”
“Unco little,” said Bow o’ meal,
taking the word. “They’re afore the
win’. An’ it ’s plain eneuch
‘at to stan’ up an’ oppose them
wad be but to breed strife an’ debate.”
“An’ that micht put mony a waukent conscience
soon’ asleep again —maybe no to be
waukent ony mair,” said Blue Peter.
“Then you don’t think you can either communicate
or receive benefit by continuing to take a part in
those meetings?”
“I dinna think it,” answered all three.
“Then the natural question is—’Why
should you go?’”
“We’re feart for the guilt o’ what
the minister ca’s shism,” said Blue Peter.
“That might have occurred to you before you
forsook the parish church,” said the schoolmaster,
with a smile.
“But there was nae speeritooal noorishment to
be gotten i’ that houff (haunt),” said
Jeames Gentle.
