people in the church. Mask is a fine Scotch word."

 

"I thought of mask," whimpered Tommy, "but that would mean the kirk was crammed,

and I just meant it to be middling full."

 

"Flow would have done," suggested Mr. Lonimer.

 

"Flow's but a handful," said Tommy.

 

"Curran, then, you jackanapes!"

 

"Curran's no enough."

 

Mr. Lorrimer flung up his hands in despair.

 

"I wanted something between curran and mask," said Tommy, doggedly, yet almost

at the crying.

 

Mr. Ogilvy, who had been hiding his admiration with difficulty, spread a net for

him. "You said you wanted a word that meant middling full. Well, why did you not

say middling full--or fell mask?"

 

"Yes, why not?" demanded the ministers, unconsciously caught in the net.

 

"I wanted one word," replied Tommy, unconsciously avoiding it.