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hand to bathe the world in the light and gladness alone fit to
typify the radiance of Robert's thoughts。 The clouds that formed
the shore of the upper sea were already burning from saffron into
gold。 A moment more and the first insupportable sting of light
would shoot from behind the edge of that low blue hill； and the
first day of his new life would be begun。 He watched； and it came。
The well…spring of day； fresh and exuberant as if now first from
the holy will of the Father of Lights； gushed into the basin of the
world； and the world was more glad than tongue or pen can tell。 The
supernal light alone； dawning upon the human heart； can exceed the
marvel of such a sunrise。
And shall life itself be less beautiful than one of its days？ Do
not believe it； young brother。 Men call the shadow； thrown upon the
universe where their own dusky souls come between it and the eternal
sun； life； and then mourn that it should be less bright than the
hopes of their childhood。 Keep thou thy soul translucent； that thou
mayest never see its shadow； at least never abuse thyself with the
philosophy which calls that shadow life。 Or； rather would I say；
become thou pure in heart； and thou shalt see God； whose vision
alone is life。
Just as the sun rushed across the horizon he heard the tramp of a
heavy horse in the yard； passing from the stable to the cart that
was to carry his trunk to the turnpike road； three miles off； where
the coach would pass。 Then Miss Lammie came and called him to
breakfast； and there sat the farmer in his Sunday suit of black；
already busy。 Robert was almost too happy to eat； yet he had not
swallowed two mouthfuls before the sun rose unheeded； the lark sang
unheeded； and the roses sparkled with the dew that bowed yet lower
their heavy heads； all unheeded。 By the time they had finished； Mr。
Lammie's gig was at the door； and they mounted and followed the
cart。 Not even the recurring doubt and fear that hollowness was at
the heart of it all； for that God could not mean such reinless
gladness； prevented the truth of the present joy from sinking deep
into the lad's heart。 In his mind he saw a boat moored to a rock；
with no one on board； heaving on the waters of a rising tide； and
waiting to bear him out on the sea of the unknown。 The picture
arose of itself： there was no paradise of the west in his
imagination； as in that of a boy of the sixteenth century； to
authorize its appearance。 It rose again and again； the dew
glittered as if the light were its own； the sun shone as he had
never seen him shine before； the very mare that sped them along held
up her head and stepped out as if she felt it the finest of
mornings。 Had she also a future； poor old mare？ Might there not be
a paradise somewhere？ and if in the furthest star instead of
next…door America； why； so much the more might the Atlantis of the
nineteenth century surpass Manoa the golden of the seventeenth！
The gig and the cart reached the road together。 One of the men who
had accompanied the cart took the gig； and they were left on the
road…side with Robert's trunk and boxthe latter a present from
Miss Lammie。
Their places had been secured； and the guard knew where he had to
take them up。 Long before the coach appeared； the notes of his
horn； as like the colour of his red coat as the blindest of men
could imagine； came echoing from the side of the heathery； stony
hill under which they stood； so that Robert turned wondering； as if
the chariot of his desires had been coming over the top of
Drumsnaig； to carry him into a heaven where all labour was delight。
But round the corner in front came the four…in…hand red mail
instead。 She pulled up gallantly； the wheelers lay on their hind
quarters； and the leaders parted theirs from the pole； the boxes
were hoisted up； Mr。 Lammie climbed； and Robert scrambled to his
seat； the horn blew； the coachman spake oracularly； the horses
obeyed； and away went the gorgeous symbol of sovereignty careering
through the submissive region。 Nor did Robert's delight abate
during the journeycertainly not when he saw the blue line of the
sea in the distance； a marvel and yet a fact。
Mrs。 Falconer had consulted the Misses Napier； who had many
acquaintances in Aberdeen； as to a place proper for Robert； and
suitable to her means。 Upon this point Miss Letty； not without a
certain touch of design； as may appear in the course of my story；
had been able to satisfy her。 In a small house of two floors and a
garret； in the old town； Mr。 Lammie took leave of Robert。
It was from a garret window still； but a storm…window now that
Robert lookedeastward across fields and sand…hills； to the blue
expanse of watersnot blue like southern seas； but slaty blue； like
the eyes of northmen。 It was rather dreary； the sun was shining
from overhead now； casting short shadows and much heat； the dew was
gone up； and the lark had come down； he was alone； the end of his
journey was come； and was not anything very remarkable。 His
landlady interrupted his gaze to know what he would have for dinner；
but he declined to use any discretion in the matter。 When she left
the room he did not return to the window； but sat down upon his box。
His eye fell upon the other； a big wooden cube。 Of its contents he
knew nothing。 He would amuse himself by making inquisition。 It was
nailed up。 He borrowed a screwdriver and opened it。 At the top lay
a linen bag full of oatmeal； underneath that was a thick layer of
oat…cake； underneath that two cheeses； a pound of butter； and six
pots of jam； which ought to have tasted of roses； for it came from
the old garden where the roses lived in such sweet companionship
with the currant bushes； underneath that； &c。； and underneath； &c。；
a box which strangely recalled Shargar's garret； and one of the
closets therein。 With beating heart he opened it； and lo； to his
marvel； and the restoration of all the fair day； there was the
violin which Dooble Sanny had left him when he forsook her forsome
one or other of the queer instruments of Fra Angelico's angels？
In a flutter of delight he sat down on his trunk again and played
the most mournful of tunes。 Two white pigeons； which had been
talking to each other in the heat on the roof； came one on each side
of the window and peeped into the room； and out between them； as he
played； Robert saw the sea； and the blue sky above it。 Is it any
wonder that； instead of turning to the lying pages and contorted
sentences of the Livy which he had already unpacked from his box； he
forgot all about school； and college； and bursary； and went on
playing till his landlady brought up his dinner； which he swallowed
hastily that he might return to the spells of his enchantress！
CHAPTER V。
THE COMPETITION。
I could linger with gladness even over this part of my hero's
history。 If the school work； was dry it was thorough。 If that
academy had no swe