THOSE who know what were the habitudes and feelings of the religious and virtuous peasantry of the west of Scotland half a century ago, can need little explanation of the immediate effects of the things which have been narrated in the last chapter, upon the inhabitants of Cross-Meikle. A deep and painful shock was given to every simple bosom among them, and the fall and deposition of their minister were things of which all thought, but of which very many were never heard to speak. The service of the church was, of course, suspended during a considerable series of weeks; and thus, the chief opportunity which the country people commonly had of meeting together in numbers, was taken away from them. As, however, the very particular circumstances which had attended Mr Blair's degradation, were soon as universally known as the degradation itself, there can be little difficulty in supposing, that, in spite of all the horror with which that primitive people regarded the offence of which their minister had been guilty, there gradually mingled in their feelings as to himself, a large share of commiseration—not to say of sympathy. Nor can it be doubted that the manner in which John Maxwell hesitated not to express himself whenever he was compelled to speak (and it was then only he would speak) upon the subject—venerable as this man was in years and character—exerted a very powerful influence over the minds both of those with whom he was personally intimate, and of others who heard the report of his conversation.

Meantime, there was no one in the parish who knew, or seemed to know, for a considerable time, what had become of the unhappy man himself. He had avoided being seen by any one who was acquainted with him during the evening which followed his resignation of his office; and although several made inquiry after him next day, at the place where he slept, the people of that house could tell nothing, but that he had sold his horse to the landlord, and gone off alone, and on foot, they knew not whither, at an early hour of morning.