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expected to find with his father。 He put on his best clothes； and
followed Simmons up the grand staircase。 The great rooms of the
castle were on the first floor； but he passed the entrance to them；
following his guide up and up to the second floor； where the earl
had his own apartment。 Here he was shown into a small room； richly
furnished after a sombrely ornate fashion； the drapery and coverings
much faded； worn even to shabbiness。 It had been for a century or so
the private sitting…room of the lady of the castle； but was now used
by the earl； perhaps in memory of his wife。 Here he received his
sons； and now Donal； but never any whom business or politeness
compelled him to see。
There was no one in the room when Donal entered； but after about ten
minutes a door opened at the further end； and lord Morven appearing
from his bedroom； shook hands with him with some faint show of
kindness。 Almost the same moment the butler entered from a third
door； and said dinner waited。 The earl walked on； and Donal
followed。 This room also was a small one。 The meal was laid on a
little round table。 There were but two covers； and Simmons alone was
in waiting。
While they ate and drank； which his lordship did sparingly； not a
word was spoken。 Donal would have found it embarrassing had he not
been prepared for the peculiar。 His lordship took no notice of his
guest； leaving him to the care of the butler。 He looked very white
and wornDonal thought a good deal worse than when he saw him
first。 His cheeks were more sunken； his hair more gray； and his eyes
more wearywith a consuming fire in them that had no longer much
fuel and was burning remnants。 He stooped over his plate as if to
hide the operation of eating； and drank his wine with a trembling
hand。 Every movement indicated indifference to both his food and his
drink。
At length the more solid part of the meal was removed； and they were
left alone； fruit upon the table； and two wine…decanters。 From one
of them the earl helped himself； then passed it to Donal； saying；
〃You are very good to my little Davie； Mr。 Grant！ He is full of your
kindness to him。 There is nobody like you！〃
〃A little goes a long way with Davie； my lord；〃 answered Donal。
〃Then much must go a longer way！〃 said the earl。
There was nothing remarkable in the words； yet he spoke them with
the difficulty a man accustomed to speak； and to weigh his words；
might find in clothing a new thought to his satisfaction。 The effort
seemed to have tried him； and he took a sip of wine。 This； however；
he did after every briefest sentence he uttered： a sip only he took；
nothing like a mouthful。
Donal told him that Davie； of all the boys he had known； was far the
quickest； and that just because he was morally the most teachable。
〃You greatly gratify me； Mr。 Grant；〃 said the earl。 〃I have long
wished such a man as you for Davie。 If only I had known you when
Forgue was preparing for college！〃
〃I must have been at that time only at college myself； my lord！〃
〃True！ true！〃
〃But for Davie； it is a privilege to teach him！〃
〃If only it might last a while！〃 returned the earl。 〃But of course
you have the church in your eye！〃
〃My lord； I have not。〃
〃What！〃 cried his lordship almost eagerly； 〃you intend giving your
life to teaching？〃
〃My lord；〃 returned Donal； 〃I never trouble myself about my life。
Why should we burden the mule of the present with the camel…load of
the future。 I take what comeswhat is sent me； that is。〃
〃You are right； Mr。 Grant！ If I were in your position； I should
think just as you do。 But； alas； I have never had any choice！〃
〃Perhaps your lordship has not chosen to choose！〃 Donal was on the
point of saying； but bethought himself in time not to hazard the
remark。
〃If I were a rich man； Mr。 Grant；〃 the earl continued； 〃I would
secure your services for a time indefinite； but； as every one knows；
not an acre of the property belongs to me； or goes with the title。
Davie； dear boy； will have nothing but a thousand or two。 The
marriage I have in view for lord Forgue will arrange a future for
him。〃
〃I hope there will be some love in the marriage！〃 said Donal
uneasily； with a vague thought of Eppy。
〃I had no intention；〃 returned his lordship with cold politeness；
〃of troubling you concerning lord Forgue！〃
〃I beg your pardon； my lord；〃 said Donal。
〃Davie； poor boyhe is my anxiety！〃 resumed the earl； in his
former condescendingly friendly； half sleepy tone。 〃What to do with
him； I have not yet succeeded in determining。 If the church of
Scotland were episcopal now； we might put him into that： he would be
an honour to it！ But as it has no dignities to confer； it is not the
place for one of his birth and social position。 A few shabby
hundreds a year； and the associations he would necessarily be thrown
into！However honourable the profession in itself！〃 he added； with
a bow to Donal； apparently unable to get it out of his head that he
had an embryo…clergyman before him。
〃Davie is not quite a man yet；〃 said Donal； 〃and by the time he
begins to think of a profession； he will； I trust； be fit to make a
choice： the boy has a great deal of common sense。 If your lordship
will pardon me； I cannot help thinking there is no need to trouble
about him。〃
〃It is very well for one in your position to think in that way； Mr。
Grant！ Men like you are free to choose； you may make your bread as
you please。 But men in our position are greatly limited in their
choice； the paths open to them are few。 Tradition oppresses us。 We
are slaves to the dead and buried。 I could well wish I had been born
in your humbler but in truth less contracted sphere。 Certain r鬺es
are not open to you； to be sure； but your life in the open air；
following your sheep； and dreaming all things beautiful and grand in
the world beyond you； is entrancing。 It is the life to make a poet！〃
〃Or a king！〃 thought Donal。 〃But the earl would have made a
discontented shepherd！〃
The man who is not content where he is； would never have been
content somewhere else； though he might have complained less。
〃Take another glass of wine； Mr。 Grant；〃 said his lordship； filling
his own from the other decanter。 〃Try this； I believe you will like
it better。〃
〃In truth； my lord；〃 answered Donal； 〃I have drunk so little wine
that I do not know one sort from another。〃
〃You know whisky better； I daresay！ Would you like some now？ Touch
the bell behind you。〃
〃No； thank you； my lord； I know as little about whisky： my mother
would never let us even taste it； and I have never tasted it。〃
〃A new taste is a gain to the being。〃
〃I suspect； however； a new appetite can only be a loss。〃
As he said this； Donal； half mechanically； filled a glass from the
decanter his host had pushed towards him。
〃I should like you； though；〃 resumed his lordship； after a short
pause； 〃to keep your eyes open to the fact that Davie must do
something for himself。 You would then be able to let me know by and
by what you think him fit for！〃
〃I will with pleasure； my lord。 Tastes may not be infallible guides
to what is fit for us； but they may lead us to the knowledge of what
we are fit