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The ancient time arose before him； when； without a tree to cover
the approach of an enemy； the castle rose defiant and bare in its
strength； like an athlete stripped for the fight； and the little
town huddled close under its protection。 What wars had there
blustered； what rumours blown； what fears whispered； what sorrows
moaned！ But were there not now just as many evils as then？ Let the
world improve as it may； the deeper ill only breaks out afresh in
new forms。 Time itself； the staring； vacant； unlovely time； is to
many the one dread foe。 Others have a house empty and garnished； in
which neither Love nor Hope dwells。 A self； with no God to protect
from it； a self unrulable； insatiable； makes of existence to some
the hell called madness。 Godless man is a horror of the
unfinisheda hopeless necessity for the unattainable！ The most
discontented are those who have all the truthless heart desires。
Thoughts like these were coming and going in Donal's brain； when he
heard a slight sound somewhere near himthe lightest of sounds
indeedthe turning of the leaf of a book。 He raised his head and
looked； but could see no one。 At last； up through the tree…boles on
the slope of the hill； he caught the shine of something white： it
was the hand that held an open book。 He took it for the hand of a
lady。 The trunk of a large tree hid the reclining form。 He would
go back！ There was the lovely cloth…striped meadow to lie in！
He rose quietly； but not quietly enough to steal away。 From behind
the tree； a young man； rather tall and slender； rose and came
towards him。 Donal stood to receive him。
〃I presume you are unaware that these grounds are not open to the
public！〃 he said； not without a touch of haughtiness。
〃I beg your pardon； sir；〃 said Donal。 〃I found the gate open； and
the shade of the trees was enticing。〃
〃It is of no consequence；〃 returned the youth； now with some
condescension； 〃only my father is apt to be annoyed if he sees any
one〃
He was interrupted by a cry from farther up the hill
〃Oh； there you are； Percy！〃
〃And there you are； Davie！〃 returned the youth kindly。
A boy of about ten came towards them precipitately； jumping stumps；
and darting between stems。
〃Take care； take care； Davie！〃 cried the other： 〃you may slip on a
root and fall！〃
〃Oh； I know better than that！But you are engaged！〃
〃Not in the least。 Come along。〃
Donal lingered： the youth had not finish his speech！
〃I went to Arkie；〃 said the boy； 〃but she couldn't help me。 I can't
make sense of this！ I wouldn't care if it wasn't a story。〃
He had an old folio under one arm； with a finger of the other hand
in its leaves。
〃It is a curious taste for a child！〃 said the youth； turning to
Donal； in whom he had recognized the peasant…scholar： 〃this little
brother of mine reads all the dull old romances he can lay his hands
on。〃
〃Perhaps；〃 suggested Donal； 〃they are the only fictions within his
reach！ Could you not turn him loose upon sir Walter Scott？〃
〃A good suggestion！〃 he answered； casting a keen glance at Donal。
〃Will you let me look at the passage？〃 said Donal to the boy；
holding out his hand。
The boy opened the book； and gave it him。 On the top of the page
Donal read； 〃The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia。〃 He had read of
the book； but had never seen it。
〃That's a grand book！〃 he said。
〃Horribly dreary；〃 remarked the elder brother。
The younger reached up； and laid his finger on the page next him。
〃There； sir！〃 he said； 〃that is the place： do tell me what it
means。〃
〃I will try；〃 answered Donal； 〃I may not he able。〃
He began to read at the top of the page。
〃That's not the place； sir！〃 said the boy。 〃It is there。〃
〃I must know something of what goes before it first；〃 returned
Donal。
〃Oh； yes； sir； I see！〃 he answered； and stood silent。
He was a fair…haired boy； with ruddy cheeks and a healthy
looksweet…tempered evidently。
Donal presently saw both what the sentence meant and the cause of
his difficulty。 He explained the thing to him。
〃Thank you！ thank you！ Now I shall get on！〃 he cried； and ran up
the hill。
〃You seem to understand boys！〃 said the brother。
〃I have always had a sort of ambition to understand ignorance。〃
〃Understand ignorance？〃
〃You know what queer shapes the shadows of the plainest things take：
I never seem to understand any thing till I understand its shadow。〃
The youth glanced keenly at Donal。
〃I wish I had had a tutor like you！〃 he said。
〃Why？〃 asked Donal。
〃I should done better。Where do you live？〃
Donal told him he was lodging with Andrew Comin； the cobbler。 A
silence followed。
〃Good morning！〃 said the youth。
〃Good morning； sir！〃 returned Donal； and went away。
CHAPTER IX。
THE MORVEN ARMS。
On Wednesday evening Donal went to The Morven Arms to inquire for
the third time if his box was come。 The landlord said； if a great
heavy tool…chest was the thing he expected； it had come。
〃Donal Grant wad be the name upo' 't；〃 said Donal。
〃'Deed； I didna luik；〃 said the landlord。 〃Its i' the back yard。〃
As Donal went through the house to the yard； he passed the door of a
room where some of the townsfolk sat； and heard the earl mentioned。
He had not asked Andrew anything about the young man he had spoken
with； for he understood that his host held himself not at liberty to
talk about the family in which his granddaughter was a servant。 But
what was said in public he surely might hear！ He requested the
landlord to let him have a bottle of ale； and went into the room and
sat down。
It was a decent parlour with a sanded floor。 Those assembled were a
mixed company from town and country； having a tumbler of
whisky…toddy together after the market。 One of them was a stranger
who had been receiving from the others various pieces of information
concerning the town and its neighbourhood。
〃I min' the auld man weel；〃 a wrinkled gray…haired man was saying as
Donal entered； 〃a varra different man frae this present。 He wud
sit doon as ready as nothat wud hewi' ony puir body like mysel'；
an' gie him his cracks； an' hear his news； an' drink his glaiss； an'
mak naething o' 't。 But this man； haith！ wha ever saw him cheenge
word wi' brither man？〃
〃I never h'ard hoo he came to the teetle： they say he was but some
far awa' cousin！〃 remarked a farmer…looking man； florid and stout。
〃Hoots！ he was ain brither to the last yerl； wi' richt to the
teetle； though nane to the property。 That he's but takin' care o'
till his niece come o' age。 He was a heap aboot the place afore his
brither dee'd； an' they war freen's as weel 's brithers。 They say
'at the lady Arctoorah'ard ye ever sic a hathenish name for a
lass！is b'un' to merry the yoong lord。 There 's a sicht o'
clapper…clash aboot the place； an' the fowk； an' their strange w'ys。
They tell me nane can be said to ken the yerl but his ain man。 For
mysel' I never cam i' their coonselno' even to the buyin' or
sellin' o' a lamb。〃
〃Weel；〃 said a fair…haired； pale…faced man； 〃we ken frae scriptur
'at the sins o' the fathers is veesitit upo' the children to the
third an' fourth generationan' wha can