donal grant-第30部分

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plainly。〃

〃Oh；　go　along　with　your　preaching！〃　cried　Forgue；　more　testily　than
wrathfully；　and　Donal　went。

In　the　meantime　Eppy　had　been　soundly　taken　to　task　by　Mrs。　Brookes；
and　told　that　if　once　again　she　spoke　a　word　to　lord　Forgue；　she
should　that　very　day　have　her　dismissal。　　The　housekeeper　thought
she　had　at　least　succeeded　in　impressing　upon　her　that　she　was　in
danger　of　losing　her　situation　in　a　way　that　must　seriously　affect
her　character。　　She　assured　Donal　that　she　would　not　let　the　foolish
girl　out　of　her　sight；　and　thereupon　Donal　thought　it　better　to　give
lord　Forgue　a　day　to　make　up　his　mind。

On　the　second　morning　he　came　to　the　schoolroom　when　lessons　were
over；　and　said　frankly；

〃I've　made　a　fool　of　myself；　Mr。　Grant！　　Make　what　excuse　for　me　you
can。　　I　am　sorry。　　Believe　me；　I　meant　no　harm。　　I　have　made　up　my
mind　that　all　shall　be　over　between　us。〃

〃Promise　me　you　will　not　once　speak　to　her　again。〃

〃I　don't　like　to　do　that：　it　might　happen　to　be　awkward。　　But　I
promise　to　do　my　best　to　avoid　her。〃

Donald　was　not　quite　satisfied；　but　thought　it　best　to　leave　the
thing　so。　　The　youth　seemed　entirely　in　earnest。

For　a　time　he　remained　in　doubt　whether　he　should　mention　the　thing
to　Eppy's　grandparents。　　He　reflected　that　their　influence　with　her
did　not　seem　very　great；　and　if　she　were　vexed　by　anything　they
said；　it　might　destroy　what　little　they　had。　　Then　it　would　make
them　unhappy；　and　he　could　not　bear　to　think　of　it。　　He　made　up　his
mind　that　he　would　not　mention　it；　but；　in　the　hope　she　would　now
change　her　way；　leave　the　past　to　be　forgotten。　　He　had　no　sooner
thus　resolved；　however；　than　he　grew　uncomfortable；　and　was
unsatisfied　with　the　decision。　　All　would　not　be　right　between　his
friend　and　him！　　Andrew　Comin　would　have　something　against　him！　　He
could　no　longer　meet　him　as　before；　for　he　would　be　hiding　something
from　him；　and　he　would　have　a　right　to　reproach　him！　　Then　his
inward　eyes　grew　clear。　　He　said　to　himself；　〃What　a　man　has　a　right
to　know；　another　has　no　right　to　conceal　from　him。　　If　sorrow　belong
to　him；　I　have　as　little　right　to　keep　that　from　him　as　joy。　　His
sorrows　and　his　joys　are　part　of　a　man's　inheritance。　　My　wisdom　to
take　care　of　this　man！his　own　is　immeasurably　before　mine！　　The
whole　matter　concerns　him：　I　will　let　him　know　at　once！〃

The　same　night　he　went　to　see　him。　　His　wife　was　out；　and　Donal　was
glad　of　it。　　He　told　him　all　that　had　taken　place。

He　listened　in　silence；　his　eyes　fixed　on　him；　his　work　on　his　lap；
his　hand　with　the　awl　hanging　by　his　side。　　When　he　heard　how　Eppy
had　tricked　Donal　that　night；　leaving　him　to　watch　in　vain；　tears
gathered　in　his　old　eyes。　　He　wiped　them　away　with　the　backs　of　his
horny　hands；　and　there　came　no　more。　　Donal　told　him　he　had　first
thought　he　would　say　nothing　to　him　about　it　all；　he　was　so　loath　to
trouble　them；　but　neither　his　heart　nor　his　conscience　would　let　him
be　silent。

〃Ye　did　richt　to　tell　me；〃　said　Andrew；　after　a　pause。　〃It's　true　we
haena　that　muckle　weicht　wi'　her；　for　it　seems　a　law　o'　natur　'at
the　yoong　's　no　to　be　hauden　doon　by　the　experrience　o'　the
auldwhich　can　be　experrience　only　to　themsel's；　but　whan　we　pray
to　God；　it　puts　it　mair　in　his　pooer　to　mak　use　o'　's　for　the
carryin'　oot　o'　the　thing　we　pray　for。　　It's　no　aye　by　words　he　gies
us　to　say；　wi'　some　fowk　words　gang　for　unco　little；　it　may　be
whiles　by　a　luik　o'　whilk　ye　ken　naething；　or　it　may　be　by　a　motion
o'　yer　han'；　or　a　turn　o'　yer　heid。　　Wha　kens　but　ye　may　haud　a
divine　pooer　ower　the　hert　ye　hae　'maist　gi'en　up　the　houp　o'　ever
winnin'　at！　　Ye　hae　h'ard　o'　the　convic'　broucht　to　sorrow　by　seein'
a　bit　o'　the　same　mattin'　he　had　been　used　to　see　i'　the　aisle　o'
the　kirk　his　mither　tuik　him　til！　　That　was　a　stroke　o'　God's　magic！
There's　nae　kennin'　what　God　can　do；　nor　yet　what　best　o'　rizzons
he　has　for　no　doin'　't　sooner！　　Whan　we　think　he's　lattin'　the　time
gang；　an'　doin'　naething；　he　may　be　jist　doin'　a'　thing！　　No　'at　I
ever　think　like　that　noo；　lat　him　do　'at　he　likes；　what　he　does　I'm
sure　o'。　　I'm　o'　his　min'　whether　I　ken　his　min'　or　no。Eh；　my
lassie！　my　lassie！　　I　could　better　win　ower　a　hantle　nor　her　giein'
you　the　slip　that　gait；　sir。　　It　was　sae　dooble　o'　her！　　It's
naething　wrang　in　itsel'　'at　a　yoong　lass　sud　be　taen　wi'　the
attentions　o'　a　bonny　lad　like　lord　Forgue！　　That's　na　agen　the
natur　'at　God　made！　　But　to　preten'　an'　tak　in！to　be　cunnin'　an'
sly！　that's　evil。　　An'　syne　for　the　ither　ladeh；　I　doobt　that's
warst　o'　'a！　　Only　I　kenna　hoo　far　she　had　committit　hersel'　wi'
him；　for　she　was　never　open…hertit。　　Eh；　sir！　it's　a　fine　thing　to
hae　nae　sacrets　but　sic　as　lie　'atween　yersel'　an'　yer　macker！　　I
can　but　pray　the　Father　o'　a'　to　haud　his　e'e　upon　her；　an'　his
airms　aboot　her；　an'　keep　aff　the　hardenin'　o'　the　hert　'at　despises
coonsel！　　I'm　sair　doobtin'　we　canna　do　muckle　mair　for　her！　　She
maun　tak　her　ain　gait；　for　we　canna　put　a　collar　roon'　her　neck；　an'
lead　her　aboot　whaurever　we　gang。　　She　maun　win　her　ain　breid；　an'
gien　she　didna　that；　she　wad　be　but　the　mair　ta'en　up　wi'　sic
nonsense　as　the　likes　o'　lord　Forgue　's　aye　ready　to　say　til　ony
bonny　lass。　　An'　I　varily　believe　she's　safer　there　wi'　you　an'　the
hoosekeeper　nor　whaur　he　could　win　at　her　easier；　an'　whaur　they　wud
be　readier　to　tak　her　character　fra　her　upo'　less　offence；　an'　sen'
her　aboot　her　business。　　Fowk　's　unco'　jealous　about　their　hoose　'at
wad　trouble　themsel's　little　aboot　a　lass！　　Sae　lang　as　it's　no　upo'
their　premises；　she　may　do　as　she　likes　for　them！　　Doory　an'　me；
we'll　jist　lay　oor　cares　i'　the　fine　sicht　an'　'afore　the
compassionate　hert　o'　the　Maister；　an'　see　what　he　can　do　for　's！
Sic　things　aiven　we　can　lea'　to　him！　　I　houp　there'll　be　nae　mair
bludeshed！　　He's　a　fine　lad；　Steenie　Kennedycome　o'　a　fine　stock！
His　father　was　a　God…fearin'　mansome　dour　by　natur；　but　wi'　an
unco　clearin'　up　throuw　grace。　　I　wud　wullin'ly　hae　seen　oor　Eppy
his　wife；　he's　an　honest　lad！　　I'm　sorry　he　gied　place　to　wrath；　but
he　may　hae　repentit　by　the　noo；　an'　troth；　I　canna　blame　him　muckle
at　his　time　o'　life！　　It's　no　as　gien　you　or　me　did　it；　ye　ken；
sir！〃

The　chosen　agonize　after　the　light；　stretch　out　their　hands　to　God；
stir　up　themselves　to　lay　hold　upon　God！　　These　are　they　who　gather
grace；　as　the　mountain…tops　the　snow；　to　send　down　rivers　of　water
to　their　fellows。　　The　rest　are　the　many　called；　of　whom　not　a　few
have　to　be　compelled。　　Alas　for　the　one　cast　out！

As　he　was　going　home　in　the　dark　of　a　clouded　moonlight；　just　as　he
reached　the　place　where　he　found　lord　Forgue；　Donal　caught　sight　of
the　vague　figure　of　a　man　apparently　on　the　watch；　and　put　himself　a
little　on　his　guard　as　he　went　on。　　It　was　Kennedy。　　He　came　up　to
him　in　a　hesitating　way。

〃Stephen；〃　said　Donal；　for　he　seemed　to　wait　for　him　to　speak　first；
〃you　may　thank　God　you　are　not　now　in　hiding。〃

〃I　wad　never　hide；　sir。　　Gien　I　had　killed　the　man；　I　wad　hae　hauden
my　face　til't。　　But　it　was　a　foolish　thing　to　do；　for　it'll　only　gar
the　lass　think　the　mair　o'　him：　they　aye　side　wi'　the　ane　they　tak
to　be　ill…used！〃

〃I　thought　you　said　you　would　in　any　case　have　no　more　to　do　with
her！〃　said　Donal。

Kennedy　was　silent　for　a　moment。

〃A　body　may　tear　at　their　hert；〃　he　muttered；　〃but　gien　it　winna
come；　what's　the　guid　o'　sweirin'　oot　it　maun！〃

〃Well；〃　returned　Donal；　〃it　may　be　some　comfort　to　you　to　know　that；
for　the　present　at　least；　and　I　hope　for　altogether；　the　thing　is
put　a　stop　to。　　The　housekeeper　at　the　castle　knows　all　about　it；
and　she　and　I　will　do　our　best。　　Her　grandparents　know　too。　　Eppie
herself　and　lord　Forgue　have　both　of　them　promised　there　shall　be　no
more　of　it。　　And　I　do　believe；　Kennedy；　there　has　been　nothing　more
than　great　silliness　on　either　side。　　I　hope　you　will　not　forget
yourself　again。　　You　gave　me　a　promise　and　broke　it！〃

〃No　i'　the　letter；　sironly　i'　the　speerit！〃　rejoined　Kennedy：　〃I
gaedna　near　the　castel！〃

〃'Only　in　the　spirit！'　did　you　say；　Stephen？　　What　matters　the　word
but　for　the　spirit？　　The　Bible　itself　lets　the　word　go　any　time　for
the　spirit！　　Would　it　have　been　a　breach　of　your　promise　if　you　had
gone　to　the　castle　on　some　service　to　the　man　you　almost　murdered？
If　ever　you　lay　your　hand　on　the　lad　again；　I'll　do　my　best　to　give
you　over　to　justice。　　But　keep　quiet；　and　I'll　do　all　I　can　for
you。〃

Kennedy　promised　to　govern　himself；　and　they　parted　friends。




CHAPTER　XXVII。

THE　SOUL　OF　THE　OLD　GARDEN。

The　days　went　on　and　on；　and　still　Donal　saw　nothing；　or　next　to
nothing　of　the　earl。　　Thrice　he　met　him　on　the　way　to　the　walled
garden　in　which　he　was　wont　to　take　his　unfrequent　exercise；　on　one
of　these　occasions　his　lordship　spoke　to　him　courteously；　the　next
scarcely　noticed　him；　the　third　passed　him　without　recognition。
Donal；　who　with　equal　mind　took　everything　as　it　came；　troubled
himself　not　at　all　about　the　matter。　　He　was　doing　his　work　as　well
as　he　knew　how；　and　that　was　enough。

Now　also　he　saw　scarcely　anything　of　lord　Forgue　either；　he　no
longer　sought　his　superior　scholarship。　　Lady　Arctura　he　saw
generally　once　a　week　at　the　religion…lesson；　of　Miss　Carmichael
happily　nothing　at　all。　　But　as　he　grew　more　familiar　with　the
countenance　of　lady　Arctura；　it　pained　him　more　and　more　to　see　it
so　sad；　so　far　from　peaceful。　　What　might　be　the　cause　of　it？

Most　well…meaning　young　women　are　in　general　tolerably　happypartly
perhaps　because　they　have　few　or　no　aspirations；　not　troubling
themselves　about　what　alone　is　the　end　of　thoughtand　partly
perhaps　because　they　despise　the　sadness　ever　ready　to　assail　them；
as　something　unworthy。　　But　if　condemned　to　the　round　of　a
tormenting　theological　mill；　and　at　the　same　time　consumed　with
strenuous　endeavour　to　order　thoughts　and　feelings　according　to
supposed　requirements　of　the　gospel；　with　little　to　employ　them　and
no　companions　to　make　them　forget　themselves；　such　would　be　at　once
more　sad　and　more　worthy。　　The　narrow　ways　trodden　of　men　are
miserable；　they　have　high　walls　on　each　side；　and　but　an　occasional
glimpse　of　the　sky　above；　and　in　such　paths