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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 lady Arctura was trying
to walk。 The true way； though narrow； is not unlovely： most
footpaths are lovelier than high roads。 It may be full of toil； but
it cannot be miserable。 It has not walls； but fields and forests
and gardens around it； and limitless sky overhead。 It has its
sorrows； but many of them lie only on its borders； and they that
leave the path gather them。 Lady Arctura was devouring her soul in
silence； with such effectual help thereto as the self…sufficient
friend； who had never encountered a real difficulty in her life；
plenteously gave her。 Miss Carmichael dealt with her honestly
according to her wisdom； but that wisdom was foolishness； she said
what she thought right； but was wrong in what she counted right；
nay； she did what she thought rightbut no amount of doing wrong
right can set the soul on the high table…land of freedom； or endow
it with liberating help。
The autumn passed； and the winter was at handa terrible time to
the old and ailing even in tra