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wull。 I bind ye by nae promise； Robert； an' I winna hae nane。
Things micht happen to put ye in a terrible difficulty wi' a
promise。 I'm only tellin' ye what I wad like。 Especially gin ye
hae fund yer father； ye maun gang by yer ain jeedgment aboot it； for
there 'll be a hantle to do wi' him efter ye hae gotten a grup o'
'im。 An' noo； I maun lie still； an' maybe sleep again； for I hae
spoken ower muckle。'
Hoping that he would sleep and wake yet again； Robert sat still。
After an hour； he looked； and saw that； although hitherto much
oppressed； he was now breathing like a child。 There was no sign
save of past suffering： his countenance was peaceful as if he had
already entered into his rest。 Robert withdrew； and again seated
himself。 And the great universe became to him as a bird brooding
over the breaking shell of the dying man。
On either hand we behold a birth； of which； as of the moon； we see
but half。 We are outside the one； waiting for a life from the
unknown； we are inside the other； watching the departure of a spirit
from the womb of the world into the unknown。 To the region whither
he goes； the man enters newly born。 We forget that it is a birth；
and call it a death。 The body he leaves behind is but the placenta
by which he drew his nourishment from his mother Earth。 And as the
child…bed is watched on earth with anxious expectancy； so the couch
of the dying； as we call them； may be surrounded by the
birth…watchers of the other world； waiting like anxious servants to
open the door to which this world is but the wind…blown porch。
Extremes meet。 As a man draws nigh to his second birth； his heart
looks back to his childhood。 When Dr。 Anderson knew that he was
dying； he retired into the simulacrum of his father's benn end。
As Falconer sat thinking； the doctor spoke。 They were low； faint；
murmurous sounds； for the lips were nearly at rest。 Wanted no more
for utterance； they were going back to the holy dust； which is God's
yet。
'Father； father！' he cried quickly； in the tone and speech of a
Scotch laddie； 'I'm gaein' doon。 Haud a grup o' my han'。'
When Robert hurried to the bedside； he found that the last breath
had gone in the words。 The thin right hand lay partly closed； as if
it had been grasping a larger hand。 On the face lay confidence just
ruffled with apprehension： the latter melted away； and nothing
remained but that awful and beautiful peace which is the farewell of
the soul to its servant。
Robert knelt and thanked God for the noble man。
CHAPTER V。
A TALK WITH GRANNIE。
Dr。 Anderson's body was； according to the fine custom of many of the
people of Aberdeen； borne to the grave by twelve stalwart men in
black； with broad round bonnets on their heads； the one…half
relieving the othera privilege of the company of shore…porters。
Their exequies are thus freed from the artificial； grotesque； and
pagan horror given by obscene mutes； frightful hearse； horses； and
feathers。 As soon as； in the beautiful phrase of the Old Testament；
John Anderson was thus gathered to his fathers； Robert went to pay a
visit to his grandmother。
Dressed to a point in the same costume in which he had known her
from childhood； he found her little altered in appearance。 She was
one of those who instead of stooping with age； settle downwards： she
was still as erect as ever； though shorter。 Her step was feebler；
and when she prayed； her voice quavered more。 On her face sat the
same settled； almost hard repose； as ever； but her behaviour was
still more gentle than when he had seen her last。 Notwithstanding；
however； that time had wrought so little change in her appearance；
Robert felt that somehow the mist of a separation between her world
and his was gathering； that she was； as it were； fading from his
sight and presence； like the moon towards 'her interlunar cave。'
Her face was gradually turning from him towards the land of light。
'I hae buried my best frien' but yersel'； grannie；' he said； as he
took a chair close by her side； where he used to sit when he read
the Bible and Boston to her。
'I trust he's happy。 He was a douce and a weel…behaved man； and ye
hae rizzon to respec' his memory。 Did he dee the deith o' the
richteous； think ye； laddie？'
'I do think that； grannie。 He loved God and his Saviour。'
'The Lord be praised！' said Mrs。 Falconer。 'I had guid houps o' 'im
in 's latter days。 And fowk says he's made a rich man o' ye；
Robert？'
'He's left me ilka thing； excep' something till 's servan'swha hae
weel deserved it。'
'Eh； Robert！ but it's a terrible snare。 Siller 's an awfu' thing。
My puir Anerew never begud to gang the ill gait； till he began to
hae ower muckle siller。 But it badena lang wi' 'im。'
'But it's no an ill thing itsel'； grannie； for God made siller as
weel 's ither things。'
'He thinksna muckle o' 't； though； or he wad gie mair o' 't to some
fowk。 But as ye say； it's his； and gin ye hae grace to use 't
aricht； it may be made a great blessin' to yersel' and ither fowk。
But eh； laddie！ tak guid tent 'at ye ride upo' the tap o' 't； an'
no lat it rise like a muckle jaw （billow） ower yer heid； for it's an
awfu' thing to be droont in riches。'
'Them 'at prays no to be led into temptation hae a chancehaena
they； grannie？'
'That hae they； Robert。 And to be plain wi' ye； I haena that muckle
fear o' ye； for I hae heard the kin' o' life 'at ye hae been
leadin'。 God's hearkent to my prayers for you； and gin ye gang on
as ye hae begun； my prayers； like them o' David the son o' Jesse；
are endit。 Gang on； my dear lad； gang on to pluck brands frae the
burnin'。 Haud oot a helpin' han' to ilka son and dauchter o' Adam
'at will tak a grip o' 't。 Be a burnin' an' a shinin' licht； that
men may praise； no you； for ye're but clay i' the han's o' the
potter； but yer Father in heaven。 Tak the drunkard frae his whusky；
the deboshed frae his debosh； the sweirer frae his aiths； the leear
frae his lees； and giena ony o' them ower muckle o' yer siller at
ance； for fear 'at they grow fat an' kick an' defy God and you。
That's my advice to ye； Robert。'
'And I houp I'll be able to haud gey and near till 't； grannie； for
it's o' the best。 But wha tellt ye what I was aboot in Lonnon？'
'Himsel'。'
'Dr。 Anderson？'
'Ay； jist himsel'。 I hae had letter upo' letter frae 'im aboot you
and a' 'at ye was aboot。 He keepit me acquant wi' 't a'。'
This fresh proof of his friend's affection touched Robert deeply。
He had himself written often to his grandmother； but he had never
entered into any detail of his doings； although the thought of her
was ever at hand beside the thought of his father。
'Do ye ken； grannie； what's at the hert o' my houps i' the meesery
an' degradation that I see frae mornin' to nicht； and aftener yet
frae nicht to mornin' i' the back closes and wynds o' the great
city？'