donal grant-第89节

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been　a　few　hours　on　the　couch　every　day　for　a　fortnight；　and　the
doctor；　now　sanguine　of　her　final　recovery；　began　to　talk　of
carrying　her　to　the　library。　The　earl；　who　never　suspected　that　Mrs。
Brookes；　having　hitherto　kept　himself　from　her　room；　would　admit　the
tutor；　the　moment　he　learned　that　the　library　was　in　view　for　her；
decided　that　there　must　be　no　more　delay。　He　had　by　this　time
contrived　a　neat　little　plan。

He　sent　for　Donal。　He　had　been　thinking；　the　earl　said；　that　he　must
want　a　holiday：　he　had　not　seen　his　parents　since　he　came　to　the
castle！　and　he　had　been　thinking　besides；　how　desirable　it　was　that
Davie　should　see　some　other　phases　of　life　than　those　to　which　he
had　hitherto　been　accustomed。　There　was　great　danger　of　boys　brought
up　in　his　position　getting　narrow；　and　careless　of　the　lives　and
feelings　of　their　fellowmen！　He　would　take　it　as　a　great　kindness　if
Donal；　who　had　a　regard　to　the　real　education　of　his　pupil；　would
take　him　to　his　home；　and　let　him　understand　the　ways　of　life　among
the　humbler　classes　of　the　nationso　that；　if　ever　he　went　into
parliament；　he　might　have　the　advantage　of　knowing　the　heart　of　the
people　for　whom　he　would　have　to　legislate。

Donal　listened；　and　could　not　but　agree　with　the　remarks　of　his
lordship。　In　himself　he　had　not　the　least　faithwondered　indeed
which　of　them　thought　the　other　the　greater　fool　to　imagine　that
after　all　that　had　passed　Donal　would　place　any　confidence　in　what
the　earl　said；　but　he　listened。　What　lord　Morven　really　had　in　his
mind；　he　could　not　surmise；　but　not　the　less　to　take　Davie　to　his
father　and　mother　was　a　delightful　idea。　The　boy　was　growing　fast；
and　had　revealed　a　faculty　quite　rare　in　one　so　young；　for　looking
to　the　heart　of　things；　and　seeing　the　relation　of　man　to　man；
therefore　such　a　lesson　as　the　earl　proposed　would　indeed　be
invaluable　to　him！　Then　again；　this　faculty　had　been　opened　in　him
through　a　willing　perception　of　those　eternal　truths；　in　a　still
higher　relation　of　persons；　which　are　open　only　to　the　childlike
nature；　whence　he　would　be　especially　fitted　for　such　company　as
that　of　his　father　and　mother；　who　could　now　easily　receive　the　boy
as　well　as　himself；　since　their　house　and　their　general　worldly
condition　had　been　so　much　bettered　by　their　friend；　sir　Gibbie！
With　them　Davie　would　see　genuine　life；　simplicity；　dignity；　and
unselfishnessthe　very　embodiment　of　the　things　he　held　constantly
before　him！　There　might　be　some　other　reason　behind　the　earl's
request　which　it　would　be　well　for　him　to　know；　but　he　would　sooner
discover　that　by　a　free　consent　than　by　hanging　back：　anything　bad
it　could　hardly　be！　He　shrank　indeed　from　leaving　lady　Arctura　while
she　was　yet　so　far　from　well；　but　she　was　getting　well　much　faster
now：　for　a　fortnight　there　had　been　no　necessity　for　his　presence　to
soothe　her　while　she　slept。　Neither　did　she　yet　know；　so　far；　at
least；　as　he　or　mistress　Brookes　was　aware；　that　he　had　ever　been
near　her　in　the　night！　It　was　well　also　because　of　the　position　of
things　between　him　and　lord　Forgue；　that　he　should　be　away　for　a
while：　it　would　give　a　chance　for　that　foolish　soul　to　settle　down；
and　let　common　sense　assume　the　reins；　while　yet　the　better　coachman
was　not　allowed　to　mount　the　box！　He　had；　of　course；　heard　nothing
of　the　strained　relations　between　him　and　lady　Arctura；　he　might
otherwise　have　been　a　little　more　anxious。　For　the　earl；　Davie；　he
thought；　would　be　a　kind　of　pledge　or　hostagein　regard　of　what；　he
could　not　specify；　but；　though　he　little　suspected　what　such　a　man
was　capable　of　sacrificing　to　gain　a　cherished　end；　some　security
for　him；　some　hold　over　him；　seemed　to　Donal　not　undesirable。

When　Davie　heard　the　proposal；　he　was　wild　with　joy。　Actually　to　see
the　mountains；　and　the　sheep；　and　the　colleys；　of　which　Donal　had
told　him　such　wonderful　things！　To　be　out　all　night；　perhaps；　with
Donal　and　the　dogs　and　the　stars　and　the　winds！　Perhaps　a　storm
would　come；　and　he　would　lie　in　Donal's　plaid　under　some　great　rock；
and　hear　the　wind　roaring　around　them；　but　not　able　to　get　at　them！
And　the　sheep　would　come　and　huddle　close　up　to　them；　and　keep　them
warm　with　their　woolly　sides！　and　he　would　stroke　their　heads　and
love　them！　Davie　was　no　longer　a　mere　childfar　from　it；　but　what
is　loveliest　in　the　child's　heart　was　only　the　stronger　in　him；　and
the　prospect　of　going　with　Donal　was　a　thing　to　be　dreamed　of　day
and　night　till　it　came！　Nor　were　the　days　many　before　their
departure　was　definitely　settled。

The　earl　would　have　Mr。　Grant　treat　his　pupil　precisely　as　one　of
his　own　standing：　he　might　take　him　on　foot　if　he　pleased！

The　suggestion　was　eagerly　accepted　by　both。　They　got　their　boxes
ready　for　the　carrier；　packed　their　wallets；　and　one　lovely　morning
late　in　spring；　just　as　summer　was　showing　her　womanly　face　through
its　smiles　and　tears；　they　set　out　together。

It　was　with　no　small　dismay　that　Arctura　heard　of　the　proposal。　She
said　nothing；　howeveronly　when　Donal　came　to　take　his　leave　she
broke　down　a　little。

〃We　shall　often　wish；　Davie　and　I；　that　you　were　with　us；　my　lady；〃
he　said。

〃Why？〃　she　asked；　unable　to　say　more。

〃Because　we　shall　often　feel　happy；　and　what　then　can　we　do　but　wish
you　shared　our　happiness！〃

She　burst　into　tears；　and　presently　was　able　to　speak。

〃Don't　think　me　silly；〃　she　said。　〃I　know　God　is　with　me；　and　as
soon　as　you　are　gone　I　will　go　to　him　to　comfort　me。　But　I　cannot
help　feeling　as　if　you　were　leaving　me　like　a　lamb　among　wolves。　I
can　give　no　reason　for　it；　I　only　feel　as　if　some　danger　were　near
me。　But　I　have　you　yet；　mistress　Brookes：　God　and　you　will　take　care
of　me！Indeed；　if　I　hadn't　you；〃　she　added；　laughing　through　her
tears；　〃I　should　run　away　with　Mr。　Grant　and　Davie！〃

〃If　I　had　known　you　felt　like　that；〃　said　Donal；　〃I　would　not　have
gone。　Yet　I　hardly　see　how　I　could　have　avoided　it；　being　Davie's
tutor；　and　bound　to　do　as　his　father　wishes　with　him。　Only；　dear
lady　Arctura；　there　is　no　chance　in　this　or　in　anything！　We　will　not
forget　you；　and　in　three　weeks　or　a　month　we　shall　be　back。〃

〃That　is　a　long　time；〃　said　Arctura；　ready　to　weep　again。

Is　it　necessary　to　say　she　was　not　a　weak　woman？　It　is　not　betrayal
of　feeling；　but　avoidance　of　duty；　that　constitutes　weakness。　After
an　illness　he　has　borne　like　a　hero；　a　strong　man　may　be　ready　to
weep　like　a　child。　What　the　common　people　of　society　think　about
strength　and　weakness；　is　poor　stuff；　like　the　rest　of　their　wisdom。

She　speedily　recovered　her　composure；　and　with　the　gentlest　smile
bade　Donal　good…bye。　She　was　in　her　sitting…room　next　the
state…chamber　where　she　now　slept；　the　sun　was　shining　in　at　the
open　window；　and　with　it　came　the　song　of　a　little　bird；　clear　and
sweet。

〃You　hear　him；〃　said　Donal。　〃how　he　trusts　God　without　knowing　it！
We　are　made　able　to　trust　him　knowing　in　whom　we　believe！　Ah；　dear
lady　Arctura！　no　heart　even　yet　can　tell　what　things　God　has　in
store　for　them　who　will　just　let　him　have　his　way　with　them。
Good…bye。　Write　to　me　if　anything　comes　to　you　that　I　can　help　you
in。　And　be　sure　I　will　make　haste　to　you　the　moment　you　let　me　know
you　want　me。〃

〃Thank　you；　Mr。　Grant：　I　know　you　mean　every　word　you　say！　If　I　need
you；　I　will　not　hesitate　to　send　for　youonly　if　you　come；　it　will
be　as　my　friend；　and　not〃

〃It　will　be　as　your　servant；　not　lord　Morven's；〃　said　Donal。　〃I
quite　understand。　Good　bye。　The　father　of　Jesus　Christ；　who　was　so
sure　of　him；　will　take　care　of　you：　do　not　be　afraid。〃

He　turned　and　went；　he　could　no　longer　bear　the　look　of　her　eyes。




CHAPTER　LXXI。

GLASHGAR。

Out　of　Arctura's　sight　Donal　had　his　turn　of　so…called　weakness！

The　day　was　a　glorious　one；　and　Davie；　full　of　spirits；　could　not
understand　why　he　seemed　so　unlike　himself。

〃Arkie　would　scold　you；　Mr。　Grant！〃　he　said。

Donal　avoided　the　town；　and　walked　a　long　way　round　to　get　into　the
road　beyond　it；　his　head　bent　as　if　he　were　pondering　a　pain。　At
moments　he　felt　as　if　he　must　return　at　once；　and　refuse　to　leave
the　castle　for　any　reason。　But　he　could　not　see　that　it　was　the　will
of　God　he　should　do　so。　A　presentiment　is　not　a　command。　A　prophecy
may　fail　of　the　least　indication　of　duty。　Hamlet　defying　augury　is
the　consistent　religious　man　Shakspere　takes　pains　to　show　him。　A
presentiment　may　be　true；　may　be　from　God　himself；　yet　involve　no
reason　why　a　man　should　change　his　way；　should　turn　a　step　aside
from　the　path　before　him。　St。　Paul　received　warning　after　warning　on
his　road　to　Jerusalem　that　bonds　and　imprisonment　awaited　him；　and
these　warnings　he　knew　came　from　the　spirit　of　prophecy；　but　he
heeded　them　only　to　set　his　face　like　a　flint。　He　knew　better　than
imagine　duty　determined　by　consequences；　or　take　foresight　for
direction。　There　is　a　higher　guide；　and　he　followed　that。　So　did
Donal　now。　Moved　to　go　back；　he　did　not　go　backneither　afterwards
repented　that　he　did　not。

I　will　not　describe　the　journey。　Suffice　it　to　say　that；　after　a　few
days　of　such　walking　as　befitted　an　unaccustomed　boy；　they　climbed
the　last　hill；　crossed　the　threshold　of　Robert　Grant's　cott