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his life was new…born。
For a few days Robert took Andrew about to see those of his old
friends who were left； and the kindness with which they all received
him； moved Andrew's heart not a little。 Every one who saw him
seemed to feel that he or she had a share in the redeeming duty of
the son。 Robert was in their eyes like a heavenly messenger； whom
they were bound to aid； for here was the possessed of demons clothed
and in his right mind。 Therefore they overwhelmed both father and
son with kindness。 Especially at John Lammie's was he received with
a perfection of hospitality； as if that had been the father's house
to which he had returned from his prodigal wanderings。
The good old farmer begged that they would stay with him for a few
days。
'I hae sae mony wee things to luik efter at Rothieden； afore we
gang；' said Robert。
'Weel； lea' yer father here。 We s' tak guid care o' 'im； I promise
ye。'
'There's only ae difficulty。 I believe ye are my father's frien'；
Mr。 Lammie； as ye hae been mine； and God bless ye； sae I'll jist
tell you the trowth； what for I canna lea' him。 I'm no sure eneuch
yet that he could withstan' temptation。 It's the drink ye ken。
It's months sin' he's tasted it； butye ken weel eneuchthe
temptation's awfu'。 Sin' ever I got him back； I haena tasted ae
mou'fu' o' onything that cud be ca'd strong drink mysel'； an' as
lang 's he lives； not ae drap shall cross my lipsno to save my
life。'
'Robert；' said Mr。 Lammie； giving him his hand with solemnity； 'I
sweir by God that he shanna see； smell； taste； nor touch drink in
this hoose。 There's but twa boatles o' whusky； i' the shape o'
drink； i' the hoose； an' gin ye say 'at he sall bide； I'll gang and
mak them an' the midden weel acquant。'
Andrew was pleased at the proposal。 Robert too was pleased that his
father should be free of him for a while。 It was arranged for three
days。 Half…an…hour after； Robert came upon Mr。 Lammie emptying the
two bottles of whisky into the dunghill in the farmyard。
He returned with glad heart to Rothieden。 It did not take him long
to arrange his grandmother's little affairs。 He had already made up
his mind about her house and furniture。 He rang the bell one
morning for Betty。
'Hae ye ony siller laid up； Betty？'
'Ay。 I hae feifteen poun' i' the savin's bank。'
'An' what do ye think o' doin'？'
'I'll get a bit roomy； an' tak in washin'。
'Weel； I'll tell ye what I wad like ye to do。 Ye ken Mistress
Elshender？'
'Fine that。 An' a verra dacent body she is。'
'Weel； gin ye like； ye can haud this hoose； an' a' 'at's in't； jist
as it is； till the day o' yer deith。 And ye'll aye keep it in
order； an' the ga'le…room ready for me at ony time I may happen to
come in upo' ye in want o' a nicht's quarters。 But I wad like ye；
gin ye hae nae objections； to tak Mistress Elshender to bide wi' ye。
She's turnin' some frail noo； and I'm unner great obligation to her
Sandy； ye ken。'
'Ay； weel that。 He learnt ye to fiddle； RobertI hoombly beg your
pardon； sir； Mister Robert。'
'Nae offence； Betty； I assure ye。 Ye hae been aye gude to me； and I
thank ye hertily。'
Betty could not stand this。 Her apron went up to her eyes。
'Eh； sir；' she sobbed； 'ye was aye a gude lad。'
'Excep' whan I spak o' Muckledrum； Betty。'
She laughed and sobbed together。
'Weel； ye'll tak Mistress Elshender in； winna ye？'
'I'll do that； sir。 And I'll try to do my best wi' her。'
'She can help ye； ye ken； wi' yer washin'； an' sic like。'
'She's a hard…workin' wuman； sir。 She wad do that weel。'
'And whan ye're in ony want o' siller； jist write to me。 An' gin
onything suld happen to me； ye ken； write to Mr。 Gordon； a frien' o'
mine。 There's his address in Lonnon。'
'Eh； sir； but ye are kin'。 God bless ye for a'。'
She could bear no more； and left the room crying。
Everything settled at Rothieden； he returned to Bodyfauld。 The most
welcome greeting he had ever received in his life； lay in the shine
of his father's eyes when he entered the room where he sat with Miss
Lammie。 The next day they left for London。
CHAPTER XX。
THE VANISHING。
They came to see me the very evening of their arrival。 As to
Andrew's progress there could be no longer any doubt。 All that was
necessary for conviction on the point was to have seen him before
and to see him now。 The very grasp of his hand was changed。 But
not yet would Robert leave him alone。
It will naturally occur to my reader that his goodness was not much
yet。 It was not。 It may have been greater than we could be sure
of； though。 But if any one object that such a conversion； even if
it were perfected； was poor； inasmuch as the man's free will was
intromitted with； I answer： 'The development of the free will was
the one object。 Hitherto it was not free。' I ask the man who says
so： 'Where would your free will have been if at some period of your
life you could have had everything you wanted？' If he says it is
nobler in a man to do with less help； I answer； 'Andrew was not
noble： was he therefore to be forsaken？ The prodigal was not left
without the help of the swine and their husks； at once to keep him
alive and disgust him with the life。 Is the less help a man has
from God the better？' According to you； the grandest thing of all
would be for a man sunk in the absolute abysses of sensuality all at
once to resolve to be pure as the empyrean； and be so； without help
from God or man。 But is the thing possible？ As well might a hyena
say： I will be a man； and become one。 That would be to create。
Andrew must be kept from the evil long enough to let him at least
see the good； before he was let alone。 But when would we be let
alone？ For a man to be fit to be let alone； is for a man not to
need God； but to be able to live without him。 Our hearts cry out；
'To have God is to live。 We want God。 Without him no life of ours
is worth living。 We are not then even human； for that is but the
lower form of the divine。 We are immortal； eternal： fill us； O
Father； with thyself。 Then only all is well。' More： I heartily
believe； though I cannot understand the boundaries of will and
inspiration； that what God will do for us at last is infinitely
beyond any greatness we could gain； even if we could will ourselves
from the lowest we could be； into the highest we can imagine。 It is
essential divine life we want； and there is grand truth； however
incomplete or perverted； in the aspiration of the Brahmin。 He is
wrong； but he wants something right。 If the man had the power in
his pollution to will himself into the right without God； the fact
that he was in that pollution with such power； must damn him there
for ever。 And if God must help ere a man can be saved； can the help
of man go too far towards the same end？ Let God solve the
mysteryfor he made it。 One thi