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； which I know she will refuse； and； therefore； the sooner it is done the better。〃 So we then stepped over to Mrs Malcolm's house； where we found that saintly woman； with Kate and Effie； and Willie； sitting peacefully at their fireside； preparing to read their Bibles for the night。 When we went in； and when I saw Kate； that was so ladylike there； with the decent humility of her parent's dwelling； I could not but think she was destined for a better station； and when I looked at the captain； a handsome youth； I thought surely their marriage is made in heaven； and so I said to Mrs Malcolm； who after a time consented； and likewise agreed that her daughter should go with the captain to America； for her faith and trust in the goodness of Providence was great and boundless； striving； as it were； to be even with its tender mercies。 Accordingly； the captain's man was sent to bid the chaise wait that had taken him to the lady's； and the marriage was sanctified by me before we left Mrs Malcolm's。 No doubt； they ought to have been proclaimed three several Sabbaths； but I satisfied the session； at our first meeting； on account of the necessity of the case。 The young couple went in the chaise travelling to Glasgow； authorising me to break the matter to Lady Macadam； which was a sore task； but I was spared from the performance。 For her ladyship had come to herself； and thinking on her own rashness in sending away Kate and the captain in the way she had done； she was like one by herself。 All the servants were scattered out and abroad in quest of the lovers； and some of them； seeing the chaise drive from Mrs Malcolm's door with them in it； and me coming out； jealoused what had been done； and told their mistress outright of the marriage； which was to her like a clap of thunder； insomuch that she flung herself back in her settee； and was beating and drumming with her heels on the floor； like a madwoman in Bedlam； when I entered the room。 For some time she took no notice of me； but continued her din； but； by…and… by； she began to turn her eyes in fiery glances upon me； till I was terrified lest she would fly at me with her claws in her fury。 At last she stopped all at once； and in a calm voice； said； 〃But it cannot now be helped； where are the vagabonds？〃〃They are gone；〃 replied I。〃Gone？〃 cried she； 〃gone where？〃〃To America； I suppose；〃 was my answer； upon which she again threw herself back in the settee； and began again to drum and beat with her feet as before。 But not to dwell on small particularities； let it suffice to say； that she sent her coachman on one of her coach horses； which； being old and stiff； did not overtake the fugitives till they were in their bed at Kilmarnock； where they stopped that night； but when they came back to the lady's in the morning； she was as cagey and meikle taken up with them； as if they had gotten her full consent and privilege to marry from the first。 Thus was the first of Mrs Malcolm's children well and creditably settled。 I have only now to conclude with observing； that my son Gilbert was seized with the smallpox about the beginning of December； and was blinded by them for seventeen days； for the inoculation was not in practice yet among us； saving only in the genteel families that went into Edinburgh for the education of their children； where it was performed by the faculty there。
CHAPTER XVI YEAR 1775
The regular course of nature is calm and orderly； and tempests and troubles are but lapses from the accustomed sobriety with which Providence works out the destined end of all things。 From Yule till Pace…Monday there had been a gradual subsidence of our personal and parochial tribulations； and the spring； though late； set in bright and beautiful； and was accompanied with the spirit of contentment； so that； excepting the great concern that we all began to take in the American rebellion； especially on account of Charles Malcolm that was in the man…of…war； and of Captain Macadam that had married Kate； we had throughout the better half of the year but little molestation of any sort。 I should； however； note the upshot of the marriage。
By some cause that I do not recollect； if I ever had it properly told； the regiment wherein the captain had bought his commission was not sent to the plantations； but only over to Ireland； by which the captain and his lady were allowed to prolong their stay in the parish with his mother； and he； coming of age while he was among us； in making a settlement on his wife； bought the house at the Braehead； which was then just built by Thomas Shivers the mason； and he gave that house； with a judicious income； to Mrs Malcolm； telling her that it was not becoming； he having it in his power to do the contrary； that she should any longer be dependent on her own industry。 For this the young man got a name like a sweet odour in all the country side； but that whimsical and prelatic lady his mother； just went out of all bounds； and played such pranks for an old woman； as cannot be told。 To her daughter…in…law； however； she was wonderful kind； and； in fitting her out for going with the captain to Dublin； it was extraordinary to hear what a paraphernalia she provided her with。 But who could have thought that in this kindness a sore trial was brewing for me！
It happened that Miss Betty Wudrife； the daughter of an heritor； had been on a visit to some of her friends in Edinburgh； and being in at Edinburgh； she came out with a fine mantle； decked and adorned with many a ribbon…knot； such as had never been seen in the parish。 The Lady Macadam； hearing of this grand mantle； sent to beg Miss Betty to lend it to her； to make a copy for young Mrs Macadam。 But Miss Betty was so vogie with her gay mantle； that she sent back word； it would be making it o'er common； which so nettled the old courtly lady； that she vowed revenge； and said the mantle would not be long seen on Miss Betty。 Nobody knew the meaning of her words； but she sent privately for Miss Sabrina； the schoolmistress； who was aye proud of being invited to my lady's； where she went on the Sabbath night to drink tea； and read Thomson's SEASONS and Hervey's MEDITATIONS for her ladyship's recreation。 Between the two； a secret plot was laid against Miss Betty and her Edinburgh mantle； and Miss Sabrina； in a very treacherous manner； for the which I afterwards chided her severely； went to Miss Betty； and got a sight of the mantle； and how it was made； and all about it； until she was in a capacity to make another like it； by which my lady and her； from old silk and satin negligees which her ladyship had worn at the French court； made up two mantles of the selfsame fashion as Miss Betty's； and； if possible； more sumptuously garnished； but in a flagrant fool way。 On the Sunday morning after； her ladyship sent for Jenny Gaffaw； and her daft daughter Meg； and showed them the mantles； and said she would give then half…a…crown if they would go with them to the kirk； and take their place in the bench beside the elders； and； after worship； walk home before Miss Betty Wudrife。 The two poor natural things were just transported with the sight of such bravery； and needed no other bribe； so； over their bits of ragged duds； they put on the pageantry； and walked away to the kirk like peacocks； and took their place on the bench； to the great diversion of the whole congregation。
I had no suspicion of this； and had prepared an affecting discourse about the horrors of war； in which I touched； with a tender hand； on the troubles that threatened families and kindred in America； but all the time I was preaching； doing my best； and expatiating till the tears came into my eyes； I could not divine what was the cause of the inattention of my people。 But the two vain haverels were on the bench under me； and I could not see them； where they sat； spreading their feathers and picking their wings； stroking down and setting right their finery； with such an air as no living soul could see and withstand； while every eye in the kirk was now on them； and now at Miss Betty Wudrife； who was in a worse situation than if she had been on the stool of repentance。
Greatly grieved with the little heed that was paid to my discourse； I left the pulpit with a heavy heart； but when I came out into the kirkyard； and saw the two antics linking like ladies； and aye keeping in the way before Miss Betty； and looking back and around in their pride and admiration； with high heads and a wonderful pomp； I was really overcome； and could not keep my gravity； but laughed loud out among the graves； and in the face of all my people； who； seeing how I was vanquished in that unguarded moment by my enemy； made a universal and most unreverent breach of all decorum； at which Miss Betty； who had been the cause of all； ran into the first open door； and almost fainted away with mortification。
This affair was regarded by the elders as a sinful trespass on the orderlyness that was needful in the Lord's house； and they called on me at the manse that night； and said it would be a guilty connivance if I did not rebuke and admonish Lady Macadam of the evil of her way； for they had questioned daft Jenny； and had got at the bottom of the whole plot and mischief。 But I； who knew her ladyship's l