tight by the General Assemblies and
Presbyteries. The peace-making particle came again to David's assistance. If an
incumbent was not called upon to make such compliances, and if he got a right
entry into the church without intrusion, and by orderly appointment, why, upon
the whole, David Deans came to be of opinion, that the said incumbent might
lawfully enjoy the spirituality and temporality of the cure of souls at
Knocktarlitie, with stipend, manse, glebe, and all thereunto appertaining.
    The best and most upright-minded men are so strongly influenced by existing
circumstances, that it would be somewhat cruel to inquire too nearly what weight
parental affection gave to these ingenious trains of reasoning. Let David
Deans's situation be considered. He was just deprived of one daughter, and his
eldest, to whom he owed so much, was cut off, by the sudden resolution of
Dumbiedikes, from the high hope which David had entertained, that she might one
day be mistress of that fair lordship. Just while this disappointment was
bearing heavy on his spirits, Butler comes before his imagination - no longer
the half-starved threadbare usher, but fat and sleek and fair, the beneficed
minister of Knocktarlitie, beloved by his congregation - exemplary in his life -
powerful in his doctrine - doing the duty of the kirk as never Highland minister
did before - turning sinners as a colley dog turns sheep - a favourite of the
Duke of Argyle, and drawing a stipend of eight hundred punds Scots, and four
chalders of victual. Here was a match, making up in David's mind, in a tenfold
degree, the disappointment in the case of Dumbiedikes, in so far as the good-man
of St. Leonard's held a powerful minister in much greater admiration than a mere
landed proprietor. It did not occur to him, as an additional reason in favour of
the match, that Jeanie might herself have some choice in the matter; for the
idea of consulting her feelings never once entered into the honest man's head,
any more than the possibility that her inclination might perhaps differ from his
own.
    The result of his meditations was, that he was called upon to take the
management of the whole affair into his own hand, and give, if it should be
found possible without sinful compliance, or backsliding, or defection of any
kind, a worthy pastor to the kirk of Knocktarlitie. Accordingly, by the
intervention of the honest dealer in butter-milk who dwelt in Liberton, David
summoned to his presence Reuben Butler. Even from this worthy messenger he was
unable to