Three generations

264 MEN AND WOMEN MET BY THE WAY
and he thus accomplished his purpose : he managed
to suborn or coach the man-servant in waiting at the
drawing-room door. When the ladies had taken an
arm each of their escort (these were the days when
guests supported each other by entering crowded
rooms arm-in-arm to face the criticizing remarks), the
door was thrown open with a flourish, and the servant
announced in a loud voice, " Captain Yelverton and
the two Mrs. Yelvertons." One can imagine the
amazement and horror of the party, together with
the indignant consternation of the two victimized
ladies.
Dr. Guthrie, the great Free Church orator and the
joint founder of ragged schools in Scotland, was then
a notable figure in Edinburgh. "Long Tarn" his
humbler followers were wont to call him, in allusion
to his tall figure, a fitting accompaniment to the fine,
handsome face crowned by the snow-white hair. The
title was given him with an affectionate familiarity
which held no disrespect, and was consistent with
the good-will and cordial regard he well deserved.
For, in addition to his natural shrewdness and humour,
and to the gift of eloquence which rendered his church
when he was in his prime as besieged and crowded as
a popular theatre, he was devout, benevolent, and
kindly to a degree, only checked by his dislike and
contempt for what savoured to him of shallow affecta-
tion and patent untruth. His home was open to me
through the friends we had in common, while I was
a contributor to the magazine of which he was for
some time the editor.
At the Guthries' and elsewhere my sister Margaret
and I met the eccentric enthusiast, Dr. Blackie, Pro-
fessor of Greek in Edinburgh University. It was said