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doornot　so　softly　as　he　intended；　for　he　was　agitated；　a　loud
curse　at　the　noise　came　after　him。　He　went　down　the　stair　not　only
with　a　sense　of　failure；　but　with　an　exhaustion　such　as　he　had　never
before　felt。

There　are　men　of　natures　so　inactive　that　they　cannot　even　enjoy　the
sight　of　activity　around　them：　men　with　schemes　and　desires　are　in
their　presence　intrusive。　Their　existence　is　a　sleepy　lake；　which
would　not　be　troubled　even　with　the　wind　of　far…off　labour。　Such
lord　Morven　was　not　by　nature；　up　to　manhood　he　had　led　even　a
stormy　life。　But　when　his　passions　began　to　yield；　his
self…indulgence　began　to　take　the　form　of　laziness；　and　it　was　not
many　years　before　he　lay　with　never　a　struggle　in　the　chains　of　the
evil　power　which　had　now　reduced　him　to　moral　poltroonery。　The
tyranny　of　this　last　wickedness　grew　worse　after　the　death　of　his
wife。　The　one　object　of　his　life；　if　life　it　could　be　called；　was
only　and　ever　to　make　it　a　life　of　his　own；　not　the　life　which　God
had　meant　it　to　be；　and　had　made　possible　to　him。　On　first
acquaintance　with　the　moral　phenomenon；　it　had　seemed　to　Donal　an
inhuman　and　strangely　exceptional　one；　but　reflecting；　he　came
presently　to　see　that　it　was　only　a　more　pronounced　form　of　the
universal　human　diseasea　disease　so　deep…seated　that　he　who　has　it
worst；　least　knows　or　can　believe　that　he　has　any　disease；
attributing　all　his　discomfort　to　the　condition　of　things　outside
him；　whereas　his　refusal　to　accept　them　as　they　are；　is　one　most
prominent　symptom　of　the　disease。　Whether　by　stimulants　or
narcotics；　whether　by　company　or　ambition；　whether　by　grasping　or
study；　whether　by　self…indulgence；　by　art；　by　books；　by　religion；　by
love；　by　benevolence；　we　endeavour　after　another　life　than　that
which　God　means　for　usa　life　of　truth；　namely；　of　obedience；
humility；　and　self…forgetfulness；　we　walk　equally　in　a　vain　show。
For　God　alone　is；　and　without　him　we　are　not。　This　is　not　the　mere
clang　of　a　tinkling　metaphysical　cymbal；　he　that　endeavours　to　live
apart　from　God　must　at　length　findnot　merely　that　he　has　been
walking　in　a　vain　show；　but　that　he　has　been　himself　but　the　phantom
of　a　dream。　But　for　the　life　of　the　living　God；　making　him　be；　and
keeping　him　being；　he　must　fade　even　out　of　the　limbo　of　vanities！

He　more　and　more　seldom　went　out　of　the　house；　more　and　more　seldom
left　his　apartment。　At　times　he　would　read　a　great　deal；　then　for
days　would　not　open　a　book；　but　seem　absorbed　in　meditationa
meditation　which　had　nothing　in　it　worthy　of　the　name。　In　his
communications　with　Donal；　he　did　not　seem　in　the　least　aware　that
he　had　made　him　the　holder　of　a　secret　by　which　he　could　frustrate
his　plans　for　his　family。　These　plans　he　clung　to；　partly　from
paternity；　partly　from　contempt　for　society；　and　partly　in　the　fancy
of　repairing　the　wrong　he　had　done　his　children's　mother。　The
morally　diseased　will　atone　for　wrong　by　fresh　wrongin　its　turn　to
demand　like　reparation！　He　would　do　anything　now　to　secure　his　sons
in　the　position　of　which　in　law　he　had　deprived　them　by　the　wrong　he
had　done　the　woman　whom　all　had　believed　his　wife。　Through　the
marriage　of　the　eldest　with　the　heiress；　he　would　make　him　the　head
of　the　house　in　power　as　in　dignity；　and　this　was　now　almost　the
only　tie　that　bound　him　to　the　reality　of　things。　He　cared　little
enough　about　Forgue；　but　his　conscience　was　haunted　with　his
cruelties　to　the　youth's　mother。　These　were　often　such　as　I　dare　not
put　on　record：　they　came　all　of　the　pride　of　self…love　and
self…worshipas　evil　demons　as　ever　raged　in　the　fiercest　fire　of
Moloch。　In　the　madness　with　which　they　possessed　him；　he　had
inflicted　upon　her　not　only　sorest　humiliations；　but　bodily
tortures：　he　would　see；　he　said；　what　she　would　bear　for　his　sake！
In　the　horrible　presentments　of　his　drug…procured　dreams　they
returned　upon　him　in　terrible　forms　of　righteous　retaliation。　And
now；　though　to　himself　he　was　constantly　denying　a　life　beyond；　the
conviction　had　begun　to　visit　and　overwhelm　him　that　he　must　one　day
meet　her　again：　fain　then　would　he　be　armed　with　something　which　for
her　sake　he　had　done　for　her　children！　One　of　the　horrible　laws　of
the　false　existence　he　led　was　that；　for　the　deadening　of　the　mind
to　any　evil；　there　was　no　necessity　it　should　be　done　and　done
again；　it　had　but　to　be　presented　in　the　form　of　a　thing　done；　or　a
thing　going　to　be　done；　to　seem　a　thing　reasonable　and　doable。　In
his　being；　a　world　of　false　appearances　had　taken　the　place　of
reality；　a　creation　of　his　own　had　displaced　the　creation　of　the
essential　Life；　by　whose　power　alone　he　himself　falsely　created；　and
in　this　world　he　was　the　dupe　of　his　own　home…born　phantoms。　Out　of
this　conspiracy　of　marsh　and　mirage；　what　vile　things　might　not
issue！　Over　such　a　chaos　the　devil　has　power　all　but　creative。　He
cannot　in　truth　create；　but　he　can　with　the　degenerate　created　work
moral　horrors　too　hideous　to　be　analogized　by　any　of　the　horrors　of
the　unperfected　animal　world。　Such　are　being　constantly　produced　in
human　society；　many　of　them　die　in　the　darkness　in　which　they　are
generated；　now　and　then　one　issues；　blasting　the　public　day　with　its
hideous　glare。　Because　they　are　seldom　seen；　many　deny　they　exist；
or　need　be　spoken　of　if　they　do。　But　to　terrify　a　man　at　the
possibilities　of　his　neglected　nature；　is　to　do　something　towards
the　redemption　of　that　nature。

School…hours　were　over；　but　Davie　was　seated　where　he　had　left　him；
still　working。　At　sight　of　him　Donal；　feeling　as　if　he　had　just　come
from　the　presence　of　the　damned；　almost　burst　into　tears。　A　moment
more　and　Arctura　entered：　it　was　as　if　the　roof　of　hell　gave　way；
and　the　blue　sky　of　the　eternal　came　pouring　in　heavenly　deluge
through　the　ruined　vault。

〃I　have　been　to　call　upon　Sophia；〃　she　said。

〃I　am　glad　to　hear　it；〃　answered　Donal：　any　news　from　an　outer　world
of　yet　salvable　humanity　was　welcome　as　summer　to　a　land　of　ice。

〃Yes；〃　she　said；　〃I　am　able　to　go　and　see　her　now；　because　I　am　no
longer　afraid　of　herpartly；　I　think；　because　I　no　longer　care　what
she　thinks　of　me。　Her　power　over　me　is　gone。〃

〃And　will　never　return；〃　said　Donal；　〃while　you　keep　close　to　the
master。　With　him　you　need　no　human　being　to　set　you　right；　and　will
allow　no　human　being　to　set　you　wrong；　you　will　need　neither　friend
nor　minister　nor　church；　though　all　will　help　you。　I　am　very　glad；
for　something　seems　to　tell　me　I　shall　not　be　long　here。〃

Arctura　dropped　on　a　chairpale　as　rosy　before。

〃Has　anything　fresh　happened？〃　she　asked；　in　a　low　voice　that　did
not　sound　like　hers。　〃Surely　you　will　not　leave　me　while。I
thoughtI　thought。What　is　it？〃

〃It　is　only　a　feeling　I　have；〃　he　answered。　〃I　believe　I　am　out　of
spirits。〃

〃I　never　saw　you　so　before！〃　said　Arctura。　〃I　hope　you　are　not　going
to　be　ill。〃

〃Oh；　no；　it　is　not　that！　I　will　tell　you　some　day；　but　I　cannot　now。
All　is　in　God's　hands！〃

She　looked　anxiously　at　him；　but　did　not　ask　him　any　question　more。
She　proposed　they　should　take　a　turn　in　the　park；　and　his　gloom　wore
gradually　off。




CHAPTER　LIX。

DUST　TO　DUST。

The　next　night；　as　if　by　a　common　understanding；　for　it　was　without
word　spoken；　the　three　met　again　in　the　housekeeper's　room；　where
she　had　supper　waiting。　Of　business　nothing　was　said　until　that　was
over。　Mistress　Brookes　told　them　two　or　three　of　the　stories　of
which　she　had　so　many；　and　Donal　recounted　one　or　two　of　those　that
floated　about　his　country…side。

〃I've　been　thinkin'；〃　said　mistress　Brookes　at　length；　〃seein'　it's
a　bonny　starry　nicht；　we　couldna　do　better　than　lift　an'　lay　doon
this　varra　nicht。　The　hoose　is　asleep。〃

〃What　do　you　say　to　that　place　in　the　park　where　was　once　a
mausoleum？〃　said　Donal。

〃It's　the　varra　place！an'　the　sooner　the　betterdinna　ye　think；
my　lady？〃

Arctura　with　a　look　referred　the　question　to　Donal。

〃Surely；〃　he　answered。　〃But　will　there　not　be　some　preparations　to
make？〃

〃There's　no　need　o'　mony！〃　returned　the　housekeeper。　〃I'll　get　a
fine　auld　sheet；　an'　intil　't　we'll　put　the　remains；　an'　row　them
up；　an'　carry　them　to　their　hame。　I'll　go　an'　get　it；　my　lady。But
wouldna　't　be　better　for　you　and　me；　sir；　to　get　a'　that　dune　by
oorsel's？　My　leddy　could　j'in　us　whan　we　cam　up。〃

〃She　wouldn't　like　to　be　left　here　alone。　There　is　nothing　to　be
called　fearsome！〃

〃Nothing　at　all；〃　said　Arctura。

〃The　forces　of　nature；〃　said　Donal；　〃are　constantly　at　work　to
destroy　the　dreadful；　and　restore　the　wholesome。　It　is　but　a　few
handfuls　of　clean　dust。〃

The　housekeeper　went　to　one　of　her　presses；　and　brought　out　a　sheet。
Donal　put　a　plaid　round　lady　Arctura。　They　went　up　to　her　room；　and
so　down　to　the　chapel。　Half…way　down　the　narrow　descent　mistress
Brookes　murmured；　〃Eh；　sirs！〃　and　said　no　more。

Each　carried　a　light；　and　the　two　could　see　the　chapel　better。　A
stately　little　place　it　was：　when　the　windows　were　unmasked；　it
would　be　beautiful！

They　stood　for　some　moments　by　the　side　of　the　bed；　regarding　in
silence。　Seldom　sure　had　bed　borne　one　who　slept　so　long！one　who；
never　waking　might　lie　there　still！　When　they　spoke　it　was　in
whispers。

〃How　are　we　to　manage　it；　mistress　Brookes？〃　said　Donal。

〃Lay　the　sheet　handy；　alang　the　side　o'　the　bed；　maister　Grant；　an'
I　s'　lay　in　the　dist；　han'fu'　by　han'fu'。　I　hae　that　respec'　for　the
deid；　I　hae　no　difficlety　aboot　han'lin'　onything　belongin'　to
them。〃

〃Gien　it　hadna　been　that　he　tuik　it　again；〃　said　Donal；　〃the　Lord's
ain　body　wad　hae　come　to　this。〃

As　he　spoke　he　laid　the　sheet　on　the　bed；　and　began　to　lay　in　it　the
dry　dust　and　air…wasted　bones；　handling　them　as　reverently　as　if　the
spirit　had　but　just　departed。　Mistress　Brookes　would　have　prevented
Arctura；　but　she　insisted　on　having　her　share　in　the　burying　of　her
own：　who　they　were　God　knew；　but　they　should　be　hers　anyhow；　and　one
day　she　would　know！　For　to　fancy　we　go　into　the　other　world　a　set　of
spiritual　moles　burrowing　in　the　dark　of　a　new　and　unknown
existence；　is　worthy　only　of　such　as　have　a　lifeless　Law　to　their
sire。　We　shall　enter　it　as　children　with　a　history；　as　children
going　home　to　a　long　line　of　living　ancestors；　t