one minute past eleven
Carmichael himself , in a mood of gay irresponsibility , had once sketched a meeting of this reverend court , in which the names were skilfully adapted , after the ancient fashion , to represent character , and the incidents , if not _ vero _ , were certainly ben trovato , and had the article ready for transmission to _ Ferrier 's Journal _ . ` A Sederunt ' did not , however , add to the miseries of a most courteous editor , for Jenkins , having come up for an all-night conference , and having heard the article with unfeigned delight , pointed out that , if it were accepted , which Carmichael 's experience did not certify , the writer would be run down within fourteen days , and that , so unreasonable a thing is human nature , some of the Presbytery might be less than pleased with their own likenesses . `` It 's in the waste-paper basket , '' Carmichael said next morning , which , as the author was twenty-five years of age , and not conspicuously modest , is a conclusive testimonial to the goodness of one Presbytery , and its hold on the affection of its members . Scots take their pleasures sadly , and no one can imagine from what arid soil they may not draw their nutriment , but it was not for motions of ponderous ambiguity and pragmatical points of order , that the minister of Kincairney rose before daybreak on a winter 's morning , and worked his way to the nearest station , with the stars still overhead , and the snow below his feet , so that when the clerk made a sign to the Moderator punctually at one minute past eleven to `` constitute the Presbytery , '' he might not be missing from his place . It was the longing of a lonely man , across whose front door no visitor had come for weeks , for friendly company ; of a weary minister , discouraged by narrow circumstances , monotonous routine , unexpected disappointments among his people , for a word of good cheer . A cynical stranger might discover various stupidities , peculiarities , provincialisms in the Presbytery -- he knew himself who had a temper , and who was a trifle sensitive about his rights -- but this middle-aged , hard-working , simple-living man saw twenty faithful brethren -- the elders did not count in this connection , for they did not understand -- who stood beside him on occasion at the Holy Table , and gave him advice in his perplexities , and would bury him with honest regret when he died , and fight like wild cats that his widow and children should have their due . His toilsome journey was forgotten when Doctor Dowbiggin , in an interstice of motions , came across the floor and sat down beside him , and whispered confidentially , `` Well , how are things going on at Kincairney ? ''