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stowing away a little nest…egg in the bank against calamity； approved of
and sometimes consulted by the greater lairds for the massive and placid
sense of what he said； when he could be induced to say anything； and
particularly valued by the minister； Mr。 Torrance； as a right…hand man
in the parish； and a model to parents。 The transfiguration had been for
the moment only； some Barbarossa； some old Adam of our ancestors； sleeps
in all of us till the fit circumstance shall call it into action； and；
for as sober as he now seemed； Hob had given once for all the measure of
the devil that haunted him。 He was married； and； by reason of the
effulgence of that legendary night； was adored by his wife。
He had a mob of little lusty； barefoot children who marched in a caravan
the long miles to school； the stages of whose pilgrimage were marked by
acts of spoliation and mischief； and who were qualified in the country…
side as 〃fair pests。〃 But in the house； if 〃faither was in；〃 they were
quiet as mice。 In short； Hob moved through life in a great peace … the
reward of any one who shall have killed his man； with any formidable and
figurative circumstance； in the midst of a country gagged and swaddled
with civilisation。
It was a current remark that the Elliotts were 〃guid and bad； like
sanguishes〃； and certainly there was a curious distinction； the men of
business coming alternately with the dreamers。 The second brother； Gib；
was a weaver by trade； had gone out early into the world to Edinburgh；
and come home again with his wings singed。 There was an exaltation in
his nature which had led him to embrace with enthusiasm the principles
of the French Revolution； and had ended by bringing him under the hawse
of my Lord Hermiston in that furious onslaught of his upon the Liberals；
which sent Muir and Palmer into exile and dashed the party into chaff。
It was whispered that my lord； in his great scorn for the movement； and
prevailed upon a little by a sense of neighbourliness； had given Gib a
hint。 Meeting him one day in the Potterrow； my lord had stopped in
front of him： 〃Gib； ye eediot；〃 he had said； 〃what's this I hear of you？
Poalitics； poalitics； poalitics； weaver's poalitics； is the way of it； I
hear。 If ye arena a'thegither dozened with cediocy； ye'll gang your
ways back to Cauldstaneslap； and ca' your loom； and ca' your loom； man！〃
And Gilbert had taken him at the word and returned； with an expedition
almost to be called flight； to the house of his father。 The clearest of
his inheritance was that family gift of prayer of which Kirstie had
boasted； and the baffled politician now turned his attention to
religious matters … or； as others said； to heresy and schism。 Every
Sunday morning he was in Crossmichael； where he had gathered together；
one by one； a sect of about a dozen persons； who called themselves
〃God's Remnant of the True Faithful；〃 or； for short； 〃God's Remnant。〃
To the profane； they were known as 〃Gib's Deils。〃 Bailie Sweedie； a
noted humorist in the town； vowed that the proceedings always opened to
the tune of 〃The Deil Fly Away with the Exciseman；〃 and that the
sacrament was dispensed in the form of hot whisky…toddy； both wicked
hits at the evangelist； who had been suspected of smuggling in his
youth； and had been overtaken （as the phrase went） on the streets of
Crossmichael one Fair day。 It was known that every Sunday they prayed
for a blessing on the arms of Bonaparte。 For this 〃God's Remnant；〃 as
they were 〃skailing〃 from the cottage that did duty for a temple； had
been repeatedly stoned by the bairns； and Gib himself hooted by a
squadron of Border volunteers in which his own brother； Dand； rode in a
uniform and with a drawn sword。 The 〃Remnant〃 were believed； besides；
to be 〃antinomian in principle；〃 which might otherwise have been a
serious charge； but the way public opinion then blew it was quite
swallowed up and forgotten in the scandal about Bonaparte。 For the
rest； Gilbert had set up his loom in an outhouse at Cauldstaneslap；
where he laboured assiduously six days of the week。 His brothers；
appalled by his political opinions； and willing to avoid dissension in
the household； spoke but little to him； he less to them； remaining
absorbed in the study of the Bible and almost constant prayer。 The
gaunt weaver was dry…nurse at Cauldstaneslap； and the bairns loved him
dearly。 Except when he was carrying an infant in his arms； he was
rarely seen to smile … as； indeed； there were few smilers in that
family。 When his sister…in…law rallied him； and proposed that he should
get a wife and bairns of his own； since he was so fond of them； 〃I have
no clearness of mind upon that point；〃 he would reply。 If nobody called
him in to dinner； he stayed out。 Mrs。 Hob； a hard； unsympathetic woman；
once tried the experiment。 He went without food all day； but at dusk；
as the light began to fail him； he came into the house of his own
accord； looking puzzled。 〃I've had a great gale of prayer upon my
speerit；〃 said he。 〃I canna mind sae muckle's what I had for denner。〃
The creed of God's Remnant was justified in the life of its founder。
〃And yet I dinna ken；〃 said Kirstie。 〃He's maybe no more stockfish than
his neeghbours！ He rode wi' the rest o' them； and had a good stamach to
the work； by a' that I hear！ God's Remnant！ The deil's clavers！ There
wasna muckle Christianity in the way Hob guided Johnny Dickieson； at the
least of it； but Guid kens！ Is he a Christian even？ He might be a
Mahommedan or a Deevil or a Fire…worshipper； for what I ken。〃
The third brother had his name on a door…plate； no less； in the city of
Glasgow； 〃Mr。 Clement Elliott；〃 as long as your arm。 In his case； that
spirit of innovation which had shown itself timidly in the case of Hob
by the admission of new manures； and which had run to waste with Gilbert
in subversive politics and heretical religions； bore useful fruit in
many ingenious mechanical improvements。 In boyhood； from his addiction
to strange devices of sticks and string； he had been counted the most
eccentric of the family。 But that was all by now； and he was a partner
of his firm； and looked to die a bailie。 He too had married； and was
rearing a plentiful family in the smoke and din of Glasgow； he was
wealthy； and could have bought out his brother； the cock…laird； six
times over； it was whispered； and when he slipped away to Cauldstaneslap
for a well…earned holiday； which he did as often as he was able； he
astonished the neighbours with his broadcloth； his beaver hat； and the
ample plies of his neckcloth。 Though an eminently solid man at bottom；
after the pattern of Hob； he had contracted a certain Glasgow briskness
and APLOMB which set him off。 All the other Elliotts were as lean as a
rake； but Clement was laying on fat； and he panted sorely when he must
get into his boots。 Dand said； ch