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saw them； James and his wife were as cheerful as usual； and gave him
a hearty welcome。 Jessie was in service； and doing well； they said。
The next time he opened the door of the cottage it was like the
entrance to a haunted tomb。 Not a smile was in the place。 James's
cheeriness was all gone。 He was sitting at the table with his head
leaning on his hand。 His Bible was open before him； but he was not
reading a word。 His wife was moving listlessly about。 They looked
just as Jessie had looked that nightas if they had died long ago；
but somehow or other could not get into their graves and be at rest。
The child Jessie had nursed with such care was toddling about；
looking rueful with loss。 George had gone to America； and the whole
of that family's joy had vanished from the earth。
The subject was not resumed between Miss St。 John and Robert。 The
next time he saw her； he knew by her pale troubled face that she had
heard the report that filled the town； and she knew by his silence
that it had indeed reference to the same girl of whom he had spoken
to her。 The music would not go right that evening。 Mary was
distraite； and Robert was troubled。 It was a week or two before
there came a change。 When the turn did come； over his being love
rushed up like a spring…tide from the ocean of the Infinite。
He was accompanying her piano with his violin。 He made blunders；
and her playing was out of heart。 They stopped as by consent； and a
moment's silence followed。 All at once she broke out with something
Robert had never heard before。 He soon found that it was a fantasy
upon Ericson's poem。 Ever through a troubled harmony ran a silver
thread of melody from far away。 It was the caverns drinking from
the tempest overhead； the grasses growing under the snow； the stars
making music with the dark； the streams filling the night with the
sounds the day had quenched； the whispering call of the dreams left
behind in 'the fields of sleep；'in a word； the central life
pulsing in aeonian peace through the outer ephemeral storms。 At
length her voice took up the theme。 The silvery thread became song；
and through all the opposing； supporting harmonies she led it to the
solution of a close in which the only sorrow was in the music
itself； for its very life is an 'endless ending。' She found Robert
kneeling by her side。 As she turned from the instrument his head
drooped over her knee。 She laid her hand on his clustering curls；
bethought herself； and left the room。 Robert wandered out as in a
dream。 At midnight he found himself on a solitary hill…top； seated
in the heather； with a few tiny fir…trees about him； and the sounds
of a wind； ethereal as the stars overhead； flowing through their
branches： he heard the sound of it； but it did not touch him。
Where was God？
In him and his question。
CHAPTER XX。
ERICSON LOSES TO WIN。
If Mary St。 John had been an ordinary woman； and if；
notwithstanding； Robert had been in love with her； he would have
done very little in preparation for the coming session。 But
although she now possessed him； although at times he only knew
himself as loving her； there was such a mountain air of calm about
her； such an outgoing divinity of peace； such a largely moulded
harmony of being； that he could not love her otherwise than grandly。
For her sake； weary with loving her； he would yet turn to his work；
and； to be worthy of her； or rather； for he never dreamed of being
worthy of her； to be worthy of leave to love her； would forget her
enough to lay hold of some abstract truth of lines； angles； or
symbols。 A strange way of being in love； reader？ You think so？ I
would there were more love like it： the world would be centuries
nearer its redemption if a millionth part of the love in it were of
the sort。 All I insist； however； on my reader's believing is； that
it showed； in a youth like Robert； not less but more love that he
could go against love's sweetness for the sake of love's greatness。
Literally； not figuratively； Robert would kiss the place where her
foot had trod； but I know that once he rose from such a kiss 'to
trace the hyperbola by means of a string。'
It had been arranged between Ericson and Robert； in Miss Napier's
parlour； the old lady knitting beside； that Ericson should start； if
possible； a week earlier than usual； and spend the difference with
Robert at Rothieden。 But then the old lady had opened her mouth and
spoken。 And I firmly believe； though little sign of tenderness
passed between them； it was with an elder sister's feeling for
Letty's admiration of the 'lan'less laird；' that she said as
follows：
'Dinna ye think； Mr。 Ericson； it wad be but fair to come to us neist
time？ Mistress Faukner； honest lady； an' lang hae I kent her； 's no
sae auld a frien' to you； Mr。 Ericson； as oorsel'snae offence to
her； ye ken。 A'body canna be frien's to a'body； ane as lang 's
anither； ye ken。'
''Deed I maun alloo； Miss Naper；' interposed Robert； 'it's only
fair。 Ye see； Mr。 Ericson； I cud see as muckle o' ye almost； the
tae way as the tither。 Miss Naper maks me welcome as weel's you。'
'An' I will mak ye welcome； Robert； as lang's ye're a gude lad； as
ye are； and gang na efternae ill gait。 But lat me hear o' yer
doin' as sae mony young gentlemen do； espeacially whan they're ta'en
up by their rich relations； an'； public…hoose as this is； I'll close
the door o' 't i' yer face。'
'Bless me； Miss Naper！' said Robert； 'what hae I dune to set ye at
me that gait？ Faith； I dinna ken what ye mean。'
'Nae mair do I； laddie。 I hae naething against ye whatever。 Only
ye see auld fowk luiks aheid； an' wad fain be as sure o' what's to
come as o' what's gane。'
'Ye maun bide for that； I doobt；' said Robert。
'Laddie；' retorted Miss Napier； 'ye hae mair sense nor ye hae ony
richt till。 Haud the tongue o' ye。 Mr。 Ericson 's to come here
neist。'
And the old lady laughed such good humour into her stocking…sole；
that the foot destined to wear it ought never to have been cold
while it lasted。 So it was then settled； and a week before Robert
was to start for Aberdeen； Ericson walked into The Boar's Head。
Half…an…hour after that； Crookit Caumill was shown into the
ga'le…room with the message to Maister Robert that Maister Ericson
was come； and wanted to see him。
Robert pitched Hutton's Mathematics into the grate； sprung to his
feet； all but embraced Crookit Caumill on the spot； and was deterred
only by the perturbed look the man wore。 Crookit Caumill was a very
human creature； and hadn't a fault but the drink； Miss Napier said。
And very little of that he would have had if she had been as active
as she was willing。
'What's the maitter； Caumill？' asked Robert； in considerable alarm。
'Ow； naething； sir；' returned Campbell。
'What gars ye look like that； than？' insisted Robert。
'Ow； naething。 But whan Miss Letty cried do