get it.« The work-people humbled themselves before the offended
dignitary, and spake him soft and fair; and at length, upon Mr. Butler recalling
to his mind that it was the ordination-day, and that the workmen were probably
thinking of going to church, Knockdunder agreed to forgive them, out of respect
to their new minister.
    »But an I catch them neglecking my duty again, Mr. Putler, the teil pe in me
if the kirk shall be an excuse; for what has the like o' them rapparees to do at
the kirk ony day put Sundays, or then either, if the Duke and I has the
necessitous uses for them?«
    It may be guessed with what feelings of quiet satisfaction and delight
Butler looked forward to spending his days, honoured and useful as he trusted to
be, in this sequestered valley, and how often an intelligent glance was
exchanged betwixt him and Jeanie, whose good-humoured face looked positively
handsome, from the expression of modesty, and, at the same time, of
satisfaction, which she wore when visiting the apartments of which she was soon
to call herself mistress. She was left at liberty to give more open indulgence
to her feelings of delight and admiration, when, leaving the Manse, the company
proceeded to examine the destined habitation of David Deans.
    Jeanie found with pleasure that it was not above a musket-shot from the
Manse; for it had been a bar to her happiness to think she might be obliged to
reside at a distance from her father, and she was aware that there were strong
objections to his actually living in the same house with Butler. But this brief
distance was the very thing which she could have wished.
    The farm-house was on the plan of an improved cottage, and contrived with
great regard to convenience; an excellent little garden, an orchard, and a set
of offices complete, according to the best ideas of the time, combined to render
it a most desirable habitation for the practical farmer, and far superior to the
hovel at Woodend, and the small house at Saint Leonard's Crags. The situation
was considerably higher than that of the Manse, and fronted to the west. The
windows commanded an enchanting view of the little vale over which the mansion
seemed to preside, the windings of the stream, and the firth, with its
associated lakes and romantic islands. The hills of Dumbartonshire, once
possessed by the fierce clan of MacFarlanes, formed a crescent behind the
valley, and far to the right were seen the dusky and more gigantic mountains of
Argyleshire,