Inchbracken: The Story of a Fama Clamosa

  CHAPTER XXVIII.

  _MORE FAITHFULNESS BUT LESS LOVE_.

  'We have been compelled, sir,' said Peter Malloch, and he fixed hiseyes sternly on the tie of Roderick's cravat (he would have liked tofrown into the face of the culprit, and to wither him up with thesternness of his regard, but the amused astonishment in his eyes wasdiscomposing). 'Me, that's to say an' Mester Prittie there, or may beI suld say the Deacons' Court an' the Eldership, though they arena a'Israel that are _of_ Israel. An' there was a Tummas even amang theApostles,' (and here he glanced reproachfully at the Laird). 'Aweel,sir, to come to the tail o' 't at ance, we hae just been haudin' a bitmeetin' wi' the Presbytery, as ane micht say, or wi' twa o' theministers ony gate, to consider yer terrible on-gaein's, Mester Brown!An' I'm just fairly dumfoundered to see the brazen effrontery o' ye,man! To be sittin' there an' glowerin' frae ye, as though ye had dunenae wrang, when the hale glen's ringin' wi' the din o' yer iniquities,an' the enemies o' the truth's lachin' i' their sleeve, an' cryin'aha! as they pass on the ither side. An' we hae been app'inted, hizfour that is, though I'm feared we hae gotten an enemy amang us 'at'sno takin' kindly t'ey wark' (another glance at the Laird), 'a Gallio'at cares for non _of_ thase things, to ca' on ye an' to dalefaithfully wi' ye anent yer transgressions. We're wullin' to dale wi'ye in luve, my brither, my little brither, I micht say; for I can mindye a bit hafflin callant no lang syne; an' we'll allow 'at youth's illto haud e'y strecht gate, an' 'at flesh is waik; we'll allow a' that,an' dale wi' ye in a' kindness for yer saul's sake, but ye maun e'enmak a clean breast o' 't, an' speak out afore waur comes o' 't. It'sa' kenned! Sae just up an' own til't, for we're busy folk, me andEbenezer here, an' we hae nae mair time to waur on parryin' an'senseless havers. Ye beut to repent o' yer misdeeds, seeing they're a'fand out, and the very first step is to confess them. Sae out wi' 'ta' like a gude laud, for ye can be nae mair a minister, an' the lessfash an' din ye mak ower't noo, the less ill ye'll do to the kirk yehae disgraced.'

  'What do you mean? demanded Roderick, beginning to flush indignantly.'State what it is you accuse me of! You appear to have found me guiltyand condemned me already, without troubling yourselves to try me; butif you wish me to confess anything, you must at least state youraccusation.'

  'An' winna ye take my word for it, 'at a' is kenned 'at ye hae dune?An' wull ye gar folk gang ower yer shame word for word, afore the veryface o' yer auld father there? Him 'at was sae gude a man, for a' hewas a Moderate, lookin' doon on ye frae the wa'! I'm misdoubtin' buthe couldna lie still e'y moulds this day, gin he kenned o' yeron-gaein's!'

  'Mr. Sangster!' exclaimed Roderick, 'this is growing intolerable! Imust request you to state the purpose of these persons' visit. What dothey accuse me of? And on what grounds? They seem unable themselves tosay intelligibly what is their errand.'

  'I certainly will not soil my lips,' said the Laird, 'with anything sooutrageous as well as absurd; and I am not surprised that even in themidst of this ridiculous scene, they should have sufficient senseleft, and good feeling, to make it difficult for them to clothe theirpreposterous accusation in words. Forgive them, and overlook the wholeescapade. It is the wisest and kindest thing to do.'

  'Mr. Sangster!' remonstrated Mr. Geddie, 'I do think, and you mustpermit me to say, that your language is not judicious. Even althoughin your overflowing charity, which I admit is beautiful and refreshingto see, and will no doubt be fruitful of blessing to your own soul,you are still (though I confess it seems unaccountable to me)persuaded of the innocence of (alas, that I should have to use thewords!) our erring brother, even you must admit that there prevails inthis parish a _fama clamosa_ of the most crying and distressing kind,affecting the moral character of the misguided young man whom thePresbytery has set over it for the present to minister to it inspiritual things. His teaching may be within the letter of theStandards. I am thankful to say I have heard nothing of false doctrineand soul-destroying error; but, alas! his example is not what it oughtto be! His teaching may be orthodox, his head knowledge of themysteries not to be impugned; but if the heart is wrong, if his walkand conversation are not convenient, if his conformity to commonmorality is not what it should be, we must rebuke and chasten him tillhe repents of his evil life,--we must cut off the withered branch, andcast it out of the vineyard. Oh! my brother!' he cried, 'repent andconfess! Put an end to this clamour! Enable us to bring the matterbefore the Presbytery in such form that it may be able to deal with itpromptly if sharply, and without delay. Why should this clamour ofindignation go forth over all Scotland to put us to shame?'

  'Say what it is you accuse me of, Mr. Geddie. I certainly shallconfess if I am guilty.'

  'Alas! my brother! Will you still hide your head in a bush like theostrich, and believe yourself concealed? Think you that the pursuerwill overpass thus easily? I tell you nay! But if you will force us todiscuss in detail your lamentable backslidings, tell us how the infantwhich you lately presented for baptism, and which, as I understand,you continue to nourish under this roof--tell us how it came into yourhands.'

  'The child was saved almost miraculously from a shipwreck, I believe.At least I saw the ship perish, and afterwards picked up the child onthe sea-shore near the place, where it appeared to be the only livingthing that had come to land. Being impatient to get home, and yetbound to render succour to the little one, I picked it up and broughtit home with me, rather than carry it the four miles back toInverlyon, where the bodies of the drowned were conveyed later in themorning, when the fishermen and coastguard had made their rounds. Fromthe clothing of the child, as well as from reading in the newspapersthat the ship was an East Indiaman, I believe that it is the child ofsome Indian officer who has perished in the wreck, and I haveadvertised in an Edinburgh newspaper regarding the child, but havereceived no communication or enquiry from any one whatever; but Icannot imagine how any _fama_ can have arisen in the parish over sucha matter, which can only be looked on, I should imagine, as anordinary exercise of Christian charity.'

  'Hech!' sighed Ebenezer, 'but he sticks til't weel! But, I'm sayin',sir, Wasna some o' yer ain folk i' the Indies? An' wasna there silleran' gear cam to ye frae there? I'm thinkin' I mind hearin' tell o'kists o' plenissin' an' bonny things 'at was brocht t'ey auld mansefrae there awa.'

  'Certainly. I had an uncle who died in India and left his property tomy mother.'

  'Aweel, then, the claes 'at ye say cam wi' the bairnie wad pruivenaething, sin ye had plenty sic like e'y house. Ye micht just haedressed up the puir thing in ony auld duds ye fand i' thae kists. Butwhat o' the bairnie's mither, sir? Tell's about Tibbie Tirpie!'

  'Tibbie Tirpie? What connection is there between her and the baby?'

  'Mither an' bairn, I'm thinkin'; or sae the folk say.'

  'They must be mad! or most abominable slanderers to trifle so with thegood name of a decent young woman.'

  'An' ye ken naething about it, minister?' demanded Peter; 'an' wull yereally be for haudin' to that when I have seen ye slidin' hame fraethere mysel' after dark? Ye _ken_ ye gaed there ae forenicht, it wasSawbith by the same token, an' ye gied them siller, ye ken that! togar them keep a calm sough. I hae had that siller through my ainfingers, sae ye needna deny't!'

  'Deny what? Deny that I gave charity to widow Tirpie? Why should I?She is poor and deserving, I believe, and I gave to her as I hope Ishould give to any other in like case, so long as I had it to give,and the recipient appeared to need it.'

  'An' what was't ye gae her, sir? Was na't a note? It's braw crackin'about _charity!_ an' a bawbee til a puir body, or aiblins a penny ginye haena the change is a godly ac'; but folk dinna part wi' their pundnotes that lichtly!'

  'I regret to observe, Peter, that my ministrations have made so littleimpression on your memory. Let us hope my successor may be more blest.Have you forgotten the words of David? "Shall I offer to the Lord ofthat which cost me nothing?" Or of another, "Sell that which thou hastand give to the poor?" The gift of the bawbee would show litt
leself-sacrifice in either you or me!'

  'Speak for yersel', sir! I hae muckle fash gatherin' the bawbees 'atye lichtly sae; an' I care na to waur mony o' them on a curranfeckless gowks, 'at suld be garred get for themsel's; but I'm thinkin'it's the ither gate wi' you an' yer like--easy come easy gang. Arenawe a' payin' intil the Sustentation Fund? An' ye hae naething to dobut tak yer share, an' read yer books an' crack til's. My certie, butit's a braw tred the preachin'! But I'm just winderin' hoo ye cangar't gree wi' yer principles, 'at whan ye gie sae muckle, ye dinnasupport mair the tred o' them 'at's contreebutin' to support yersel'!We're no a' beggars i' Glen Effick, but gin a' body did as ye do,there's Mester Prittie an' mysel micht tak t'ey beggin' afore lang fora' the tred we'd do.'

  'As to that, Peter, we live in a free country. You take your Gospel inany church you have a mind to, and no one has a right to gainsay yourchoice; and so, also, my sister buys her groceries where she thinksproper. As it happens, she continues, I believe, to buy them mostly inInverlyon, where her mother bought them before her. And as to thepeople in the Glen having a claim to our custom, because theycontribute to the Sustentation Fund, and I am paid out of it, I canonly say that I distribute among them all I receive from that source,and more, though I make no merit of it. I have lived on my own meansever since I have been among you. My residence, however, is drawing toan end. My physician warns me, it will be at the risk of my life if Iremain here during the winter. I have been unwilling to follow hisadvice, believing it my duty to remain and labour while strengthlasted; but after this conversation and the state of feeling in theparish which it betrays, I see clearly that all hope of usefulness forme here is at an end, and so soon as I am sufficiently recovered, Ishall go. The discovery that such suspicions are entertained againstme, coming too so suddenly and unexpectedly, is deeply painful; but ifI am to suffer, it is a consolation to know that it is for my gooddeeds, and not for evil. Saint Peter's words, which Mr. Geddie therecan point out to you, are my assured consolation.'

  'Ye maunna be thinkin', sir,' urged Ebenezer, somewhat overawed by thebold front and indignant tone assumed by Roderick, whom he hadexpected to see humbled in the dust, in tearful penitence, and forwhose benefit he had actually prepared a little speech full ofsuperior pity, to be delivered before taking leave, 'ye maunna bethinkin' 'at there's nae evidence against ye but the pund note 'atPeter there has traced. The first o't cam frae Inchbracken, I'mthinkin', frae the very castle o' the persecutors; for the puir lassgaes working up there whiles, I'm thinkin'. An', oh sir! but it was anill-faured trick o' ye, 'at ye wad expose our shame an' our nakednessup yonder!--tellin't in Gath, as a body micht say, publishin' 't inAskelon! An' ye beut to confess afore ye gang, sir, an' mak reparationto the puir lass, an' syne ye an' her micht begin ower again, whaur yewisna kenned, an' ye micht do weel yet, afore ye dee!'

  'I must protest,' said Mr. Geddie, 'against removal out of the parishat present! though it is only right that your ministrations shouldcease. Brother Dowlas will have seen the Moderator of the Presbyteryere now, and I doubt not a _pro re nata_ meeting is already called toinvestigate this terrible _fama_. The case will be taken up forthwith,and it would be a fleeing from discipline, which you are aware, mypoor brother, is a most serious ecclesiastical offence, were you toremove yourself beyond the bounds. The law of the Church requires thatyou should be tried and put to open shame, that your soul may besaved. Accept the chastening in a fitting spirit. And oh! my brother!confess! confess! if peradventure the publicity and the discreditwhich it will bring upon the Church be averted!'

  Roderick rose to his feet. 'Enough! Mr. Geddie,' he said. 'I canpermit no more of this! I have told you how the innocent cause of thismisunderstanding came into my hands, and I cannot consent to hear mystatements treated as falsehood in my own study. I would say more, butI know well that when you come at last to perceive the truth of thecase, there is no man living who will be more ashamed of hisacceptance of a preposterous calumny.'

  Mr. Geddie would have made still another heart-moving appeal to thesinner to confess, but the Laird had risen, so too had Peter andEbenezer, and he found himself borne along to the door. With a lastgreat cry he raised his hands aloft, and as he crossed the thresholdhe exclaimed--'Ephraim is joined to his idols! Let him alone!'