Part 3 (1/2)

After a brief silence, the Sergeant said, ”You have given me great pain, Mr. Porteous.”

”How so, Adam?”--still more softened.

”It is great pain, sir, to have one's character doubted,” said Adam.

”But have I not cause?” inquired the minister.

”You are of course the best judge, Mr. Porteous; but I frankly own to you that the possibility of there being any harm in teaching a bird never occurred to me.”

”Oh, Adam!” exclaimed Katie, ”I ken it was aye _your_ mind that, but it wasna mine, although at last----”

”Let me alone, Katie, just now,” quietly remarked Adam.

”What of the scandal? what of the scandal?” struck in the minister. ”I have no time to discuss details this morning; the bells have commenced.”

”Well, then,” said the Sergeant, ”I was not aware of the disturbance in the street which you have described; I never, certainly, could have intended _that_. I was, at the time, in the bedroom, and never knew of it. Believe me when I say't, that no man lives who would feel mair pain than I would in being the occasion of ever leading anyone to break the Lord's day by word or deed, more especially the young; and the young aboot our doors are amang the warst. And as to my showing disrespect to you, sir!--that never could be my intention.”

”I believe you, Adam, I believe you; but----”

”Ay, weel ye may,” chimed in Katie, now weeping as she saw some hope of peace; ”for he's awfu' taen up wi' guid, is Adam, though I say it.”

”Oh, Katie; dinna, woman, fash yersel' wi' me,” interpolated Adam.

”Though I say't that shouldna say't,” continued Katie, ”I'm sure he has the greatest respec' for you, sir. He'll do onything to please you that's possible, and to mak' amends for this great misfortun'.”

”Of that I have no doubt--no doubt whatever, Mrs. Mercer,” said Mr.

Porteous, kindly; ”and I wished, in order that he should do so, to be faithful to him, as he well knows I never will sacrifice my principles to any man, be he who he may--never!

”There is no difficulty, I am happy to say,” the minister resumed, after a moment's pause, ”in settling the whole of this most unpleasant business. Indeed I promised to the neighbours, who were very naturally offended, that it should never occur again; and as you acted, Adam, from ignorance--and we must not blame an old soldier _too_ much,” the minister added with a patronising smile,--”all parties will be satisfied by a very small sacrifice indeed--almost too small, considering the scandal. Just let the bird be forthwith destroyed--that is all.”

Adam started.

”In any case,” the minister went on to say, without noticing the Sergeant's look, ”this should be done, because being an elder, and, as such, a man with grave and solemn responsibilities, you will I am sure see the propriety of at once acquiescing in my proposal, so as to avoid the temptation of your being occupied by trifles and frivolities--contemptible trifles, not to give a harsher name to all that the bird's habits indicate. But when, in addition to this consideration, these habits, Adam, have, as a fact, occasioned serious scandal, no doubt can remain in any well-const.i.tuted mind as to the _necessity_ of the course I have suggested.”

”Destroy Charlie--I mean, the starling?” enquired the Sergeant, stroking his chin, and looking down at the minister with a smile in which there was more of sorrow and doubt than of any other emotion. ”Do you mean, Mr. Porteous, that I should kill him?”

”I don't mean that, necessarily, _you_ should do it, though _you_ ought to do it as the offender. But I certainly mean that it should be destroyed in any way, or by any person you please, as, if not the best possible, yet the easiest amends which can be made for what has caused such injury to morals and religion, and for what has annoyed myself more than I can tell. Remember, also, that the credit of the elders.h.i.+p is involved with my own.”

”Are you serious, Mr. Porteous?” asked the Sergeant.

”Serious! Serious!--Your minister?--on Sabbath morning!--in a grave matter of this kind!--to ask if I am serious! Mr. Mercer, you are forgetting yourself.”

”I ask pardon,” replied the Sergeant, ”if I have said anything disrespectful; but I really did not take in how the killing of my pet starling could mend matters, for which I say again, that I am really vexed, and ax yer pardon. What has happened has been quite unintentional on my part, I do a.s.sure you, sir.”

”The death of the bird,” said the minister, ”I admit, in one serse, is a mere trifle--a trifle to _you_: but it is not so to _me_, who am the guardian of religion in the parish, and as such have pledged my word to your neighbours that this, which I have called a great scandal, shall never happen again. The least that you can do, therefore, I humbly think, as a proof of your regret at having been even the innocent cause of acknowledged evil; as a satisfaction to your neighbours, and a security against a like evil occurring again; and as that which is due to yourself as an office-bearer, to the parish, and, I must add, to _me_ as your pastor, and _my_ sense of what is right; and, finally, in order to avoid a triumph to Dissent on the one hand, and to infidelity on the other,--it is, I say, beyond all question your clear duty to remove the _cause_ of the offence, by your destroying that paltry insignificant bird. I must say, Mr. Mercer, that I feel not a little surprised that your own sense of what is right does not compel you at once to acquiesce in my very moderate demand--so moderate, indeed, that I am almost ashamed to make it.”

No response from the Sergeant.

”Many men, let me tell you,” continued Mr. Porteous, ”would have summoned you to the Kirk Session, and rebuked you for your whole conduct, actual and implied, in this case, and, if you had been contumacious, would then have libelled and deposed you!” The minister was warming as he proceeded. ”I have no time,” he added, rising, ”to say more on this painful matter. But I ask you now, after all I have stated, and before we part, to promise me this favour--no, I won't put it on the ground of a personal favour, but on _principle_--promise me to do this--not to-day, of course, but on a week-day, say to-morrow--to destroy the bird,--and I shall say no more about it. Excuse my warmth, Adam, as I may be doing you the injustice of a.s.suming that you do not see the gravity of your own position or of mine.” And Mr. Porteous stretched out his hand to the Sergeant.