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music the night before； and set down his bucket to follow it； and
where he found the bucket； blown thither by the wind； when he came
back to feel for it in the dark。 Then he began to lead them； as
nearly as he could； the way he had then gone； but with some； for
Arctura's sake； desirable detours： over one steep…sloping roof they
had to cross； he found a little stair up the middle； and down the
other side。
They came to a part where he was not quite sure about the way。 As he
stopped to bethink himself； they turned and looked eastward。 The sea
was shining in the sun； and the flat wet country between was so
bright that they could not tell where the land ended and the sea
began。 But as they gazed a great cloud came over the sun； the sea
turned cold and gray as deatha true March sea； and the land lay
low and desolate between。 The spring was gone and the winter was
there。 A gust of wind； full of keen hail； drove sharp in their
faces。
〃Ah； that settles the question！〃 said Donal。 〃The music…bird must
wait。 We will call upon her another day。It is funny； isn't it；
Davie； to go a bird's…nesting after music on the roof of a house？〃
〃Hark！〃 said Arctura； 〃I think I heard the music…bird！She wants us
to find her nest！ I really don't think we ought to go back for a
little blast of wind； and a few pellets of hail！ What do you think；
Davie？〃
〃Oh； for me； I wouldn't turn for ever so big a storm！〃 said Davie；
〃but you know； Arkie； it's not you or me； Arkie！ Mr。 Grant is the
captain of this expedition； and we must do as he bids us。〃
〃Oh； surely； Davie！ I never meant to dispute that。 Only Mr。 Grant is
not a tyrant； he will let a lady say what she thinks！〃
〃Oh； yes； or a boy either！ He likes me to say what I think！ He says
we can't get at each other without。 And do you knowhe obeys me
sometimes！〃
Arctura glanced a keen question at the boy。
〃It is quite true！〃 said Davie； while Donal listened smiling。 〃Last
winter； for days togethernot all day； you know： I had to obey him
most of the time！ but at certain times； I was as sure of Mr。 Grant
doing as I told him； as he is now of me doing as he tells me。〃
〃What times were those？〃 asked Arctura； thinking to hear of some odd
pedagogic device。
〃When I was teaching him to skate！〃 answered Davie； in a triumph of
remembrance。 〃He said I knew better than he there； and so he would
obey me。 You wouldn't believe how splendidly he did it； Arkieout
and out！〃 concluded Davie； in a tone almost of awe。
〃Oh； yes； I would believe itperfectly！〃 said Arctura。
Donal suddenly threw an arm round each of them； and pulled them down
sitting。 The same instant a fierce blast burst upon the roof。 He had
seen the squall whitening the sea； and looking nearer home saw the
tops of the trees between streaming level towards the castle。 But
seated they were in no danger。
〃Hark！〃 said Arctura again； 〃there it is！〃
They all heard the wailing cry of the ghost…music。 But while the
blast continued they dared not pursue their hunt。 It kept on in fits
and gusts till the squall ceasedas suddenly almost as it had
burst。 The sky cleared； and the sun shone as a March sun can。 But
the blundering blasts and the swan…shot of the flying hail were all
about still。
〃When the storm is upon us；〃 remarked Donal； as they rose from their
crouching position； 〃it seems as if there never could be sunshine
more； but our hopelessness does not keep back the sun when his hour
to shine is come。〃
〃I understand！〃 said Arctura： 〃when one is miserable； misery seems
the law of being； and in the midst of it dwells some thought which
nothing can ever set right！ All at once it is gone； broken up and
gone； like that hail…cloud。 It just looks its own foolishness and
vanishes。〃
〃Do you know why things so often come right？〃 said Donal。 〃I would
say always come right； but that is matter of faith； not sight。〃
Arctura did not answer at once。
〃I think I know what you are thinking；〃 she said； 〃but I want to
hear you answer your own question。〃
〃Why do things come right so often； do you think； Davie？〃 repeated
Donal。
〃Is it；〃 returned Davie； 〃because they were made right to begin
with？〃
〃There is much in that； Davie； but there is a better reason than
that。 It is because things are alive； and the life at the heart of
them； that which keeps them going； is the great； beautiful God。 So
the sun for ever returns after the clouds。 A doubting man； like him
who wrote the book of Ecclesiasties； puts the evil last； and says
'the clouds return after the rain；' but the Christian knows that
One has mastery
Who makes the joy the last in every song。〃
〃You speak like one who has suffered！〃 said Arctura； with a kind
look in his face。
〃Who has not that lives？〃
〃It is how you are able to help others！〃
〃Am I able to help others？ I am very glad to hear it。 My ambition
would be to help； if I had any ambition。 But if I am able； it is
because I have been helped myself； not because I have suffered。〃
〃Will you tell me what you mean by saying you have no ambition？〃
〃Where your work is laid out for you； there is no room for ambition：
you have got your work to do！But give me your hand； my lady； put
your other hand on my shoulder。 You stop there； Davie； and don't
move till I come to you。 Now； my ladya little jump！ That's it！ Now
you are safe！You were not afraid； were you？〃
〃Not in the least。 But did you come here in the dark？〃
〃Yes。 There is this advantage in the dark： you do not see how
dangerous the way is。 We take the darkness about us for the source
of our difficulties： it is a great mistake。 Christian would hardly
have dared go through the Valley of the Shadow of Death； had he not
had the shield of the darkness all about him。〃
〃Can the darkness be a shield？ Is it not the evil thing？〃
〃Yes； the dark that is within usthe dark of distrust and
unwillingness； but not the outside dark of mere human ignorance。
Where we do not see； we are protected。 Where we are most ignorant
and most in danger； is in those things that affect the life of God
in us： there the Father is every moment watching his child。 If he
were not constantly pardoning and punishing our sins； what would
become of us！ We must learn to trust him about our faults as much as
about everything else！〃
In the earnestness of his talk he had stopped； but now turned and
went on。
〃There is my land…； or roof…mark rather！〃 he said； 〃that
chimney…stack！ Close by it I heard the music very near me
indeedwhen all at once the darkness and the wind came together so
thick that I could do nothing more。 We shall do better now in the
daylightand three of us instead of one！〃
〃What a huge block of chimneys！〃 said Arctura。
〃Is it not！〃 returned Donal。 〃It indicates the hugeness of the
building below us； of which we can see so little。 Like the volcanoes
of the world； it tells us how much fire is necessary to keep our
dwelling warm。〃
〃I thought it was the sun that kept the earth warm；〃 said Davie。
〃So it is； but not the sun alone。 The earth is like a man： the great
glowing fire is God in the heart of the earth； and the great sun is
God in the sky； keeping it warm on the other side。 Our