and　he　was　seeking　a　readjustment　of　his　opinion　and　convictions；
  which　were　rather　at　loose　ends。　　In　this　state　of　mind　he　found
  little　comfort　from　his　shrewd　old　mother。
  〃Y'e　have　nae　anchor；　laddie；　and　ilka　woof　of　air　and　ilka　turn　o'
  the　tide　and　awa'　ye　go。〃
  As　for　her　anchor；　she　made　no　bones　of　announcing　that　she　had
  been　brought　up　on　the　Shorter　Catechism　and　the　Confession　and　in
  consequence　found　a　place　for　every　theory　of　hers；　Social　and
  Economic　as　well　as　Ethical　and　Religious；　within　the　four　corners
  of　the　mighty　fabric　of　the　Calvinistic　system　of　Philosophy　and
  Faith。
  One　of　the　keen　joys　of　her　life　since　coming　to　the　new　country
  she　found　in　her　discussions　with　the　Rev。　Murdo　Matheson；　whom；
  after　some　considerable　hesitation；　she　had　finally　chosen　to　〃sit
  under。〃　　The　Rev。　Murdo's　theology　was　a　little　narrow　for　her。
  She　had　been　trained　in　the　schools　of　the　Higher　Critics　of　the
  Free　Kirk　leaders　at　home。　　She　talked　familiarly　of　George　Adam
  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　t