david elginbrod-第85章

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before　him；　and　say；　〃Father；　I　have　sinned　against　heaven　and
thee；〃　for　that　heaven　had　taken　him　up　out　of　his　sight。　　He　could
only　weep　instead；　and　bitterly　repent。　　Yes；　there　was　one　thing
more　he　could　do。　　Janet　still　lived。　　He　would　go　to　her；　and
confess　his　sin；　and　beg　her　forgiveness。　　Receiving　it；　he　would　be
at　peace。　　He　knew　David　forgave　him；　whether　he　confessed　or　not；
and　that；　if　he　were　alive；　David　would　seek　his　confession　only　as
the　casting　away　of　the　separation　from　his　heart；　as　the　banishment
of　the　worldly　spirit；　and　as　the　natural　sign　by　which　he　might
know　that　Hugh　was　one　with　him　yet。

Janet　was　David's　representative　on　earth：　he　would　go　to　her。

So　he　returned；　rich　and　great；　rich　in　knowing　that　he　was　the
child　of　Him　to　whom　all　the　gold　mines　belong；　and　great　in　that
humility　which　alone　recognizes　greatness；　and　in　the　beginnings　of
that　meekness　which　shall　inherit　the　earth。　　No　more　would　he　stunt
his　spiritual　growth　by　self…satisfaction。　　No　more　would　he　lay
aside；　in　the　cellars　of　his　mind；　poor　withered　bulbs　of　opinions；
which；　but　for　the　evil　ministrations　of　that　self…satisfaction；
seeking　to　preserve　them　by　drying　and　salting；　might　have　been
already　bursting　into　blossoms　of　truth；　of　infinite　loveliness。

He　knew　that　Margaret　thought　far　too　well　of　himhonoured　him
greatly　beyond　his　deserts。　　He　would　not　allow　her　to　be　any　longer
thus　deceived。　　He　would　tell　her　what　a　poor　creature　he　was。　　But
he　would　say；　too；　that　he　hoped　one　day　to　be　worthy　of　her　praise；
that　he　hoped　to　grow　to　what　she　thought　him。　　If　he　should　fail　in
convincing　her；　he　would　receive　all　the　honour　she　gave　him　humbly；
as　paid；　not　to　him；　but　to　what　he　ought　to　be。　　God　grant　it　might
be　as　to　his　future　self！

In　this　mood　he　went　to　Janet。




CHAPTER　XXIV。

THE　FIR…WOOD　AGAIN。

Er　stand　vor　der　himmlischen　Jungfrau。　　Da　hob　er　den　leichten；
gl鋘zenden　Schleir；　undRosenbl黷hchen　sank　in　seine
Arme。Novalis。Die　Lehrlinge　zu　Sais。

He　stood　before　the　heavenly　Virgin　（Isis；　the　Goddess　of　Nature）。
Then　lifted　he　the　light；　shining　veil；　andRosebud　（his　old　love）
sank　into　his　arms。

So　womanly；　so　benigne；　and　so　meek。

CHAUCER。Prol。　to　Leg。　of　Good　Women。


It　was　with　a　mingling　of　strange　emotions；　that　Hugh　approached　the
scene　of　those　not　very　old；　and　yet；　to　his　feeling；　quite　early
memories。　　The　dusk　was　beginning　to　gather。　　The　hoar…frost　lay
thick　on　the　ground。　　The　pine…trees　stood　up　in　the　cold；　looking；
in　their　garment　of　spikes；　as　if　the　frost　had　made　them。　　The　rime
on　the　gate　was　unfriendly；　and　chilled　his　hand。　　He　turned　into
the　footpath。　　He　say　the　room　David　had　built　for　him。　　Its　thatch
was　one　mass　of　mosses；　whose　colours　were　hidden　now　in　the
cuckoo…fruit　of　the　frost。　　Alas！　how　Death　had　cast　his　deeper
frost　over　all；　for　the　man　was　gone　from　the　hearth！　　But　neither
old　Winter　nor　skeleton　Death　can　withhold　the　feet　of　the　little
child　Spring。　　She　is　stronger　than　both。　　Love　shall　conquer　hate；
and　God　will　overcome　sin。

He　drew　night　to　the　door；　trembling。　　It　seemed　strange　to　him　that
his　nerves　only；　and　not　his　mind；　should　feel。In　moments　of
unusual　excitement；　it　sometimes　happens　that　the　only　consciousness
a　strong　man　has　of　emotion；　lies　in　an　unwonted　physical　vibration；
the　mind　itself　refusing　to　be　disturbed。　　It　is；　however；　but　a
seeming：　the　emotion　is　so　deep；　that　consciousness　can　lay　hold　of
its　physical　result　only。The　cottage　looked　the　same　as　ever；　only
the　peat…stack　outside　was　smaller。　　In　the　shadowiness　of　the　firs；
the　glimmer　of　a　fire　was　just　discernible　on　the　kitchen　window。
He　trembled　so　much　that　he　could　not　enter。　　He　would　go　into　the
fir…wood　first；　and　see　Margaret's　tree；　as　he　always　called　it　in
his　thoughts　and　dreams。

Very　poor　and　stunted　and　meagre　looked　the　fir…trees　of
Turriepuffit；　after　the　beeches　and　elms　of　Arnstead。　　The　evening
wind　whistled　keen　and　cold　through　their　dry　needles；　and　made　them
moan；　as　if　because　they　were　fettered；　and　must　endure　the　winter
in　helpless　patience。　　Here　and　there　amongst　them；　rose　the　Titans
of　the　little　forestthe　huge；　old；　contorted；　wizard…like；　yet
benevolent　beingsthe　Scotch　firs。　　Towards　one　of　these　he　bent
his　way。　　It　was　the　one　under　which　he　had　seen　Margaret；　when　he
met　her　first　in　the　wood；　with　her　whole　soul　lost　in　the　waving　of
its　wind…swung；　sun…lighted　top；　floating　about　in　the　sea　of　air
like　a　golden　nest　for　some　silvery　bird　of　heaven。　　To　think　that
the　young　girl　to　whom　he　had　given　the　primrose　he　had　just　found；
the　then　first…born　of　the　Spring；　should　now　be　the　queen　of　his
heart！　　Her　childish　dream　of　the　angel　haunting　the　wood　had　been
true；　only　she　was　the　angel　herself。　　He　drew　near　the　place。　　How
well　he　knew　it！　　He　seated　himself；　cold　as　it　was　in　the　February
of　Scotland；　at　the　foot　of　the　blessed　tree。　　He　did　not　know　that
it　was　cold。

While　he　sat　with　his　eyes　fixed　on　the　ground；　a　light　rustle　in
the　fallen　leaves　made　him　raise　them　suddenly。　　It　was　all　winter
and　fallen　leaves　about　him；　but　he　lifted　his　eyes；　and　in　his　soul
it　was　summer：　Margaret　stood　before　him。　　He　was　not　in　the　least
surprised。　　For　how　can　one　wonder　to　see　before　his　eyes；　the　form
of　which　his　soul　is　full？there　is　no　shock。　　She　stood　a　little
way　off；　lookingas　if　she　wanted　to　be　sure　before　she　moved　a
step。　　She　was　dressed　in　a　grey　winsey　gown；　close　to　her　throat
and　wrists。　　She　had　neither　shawl　nor　bonnet。　　Her　fine　health　kept
her　warm；　even　in　a　winter　wood　at　sun…down。　　She　looked　just　the
same；at　home　everywhere；　most　at　home　in　Nature's　secret　chamber。
Like　the　genius　of　the　place；　she　made　the　winter…wood　look　homely。
What　were　the　oaks　and　beeches　of　Arnstead　now？　　Homeliness　and
glory　are　Heaven。

She　came　nearer。

〃Margaret！〃　he　murmured；　and　would　have　risen。

〃No；　no；　sit　still；〃　she　rejoined；　in　a　pleading　tone。　〃I　thought　it
was　the　angel　in　the　picture。　　Now　I　know　it。　　Sit　still；　dear　Mr。
Sutherland；　one　moment　more。〃

Humbled　by　his　sense　of　unworthiness；　and　a　little　distressed　that
she　could　so　quietly　reveal　the　depth　of　her　feeling　towards　him；　he
said：

〃Ah；　Margaret！　　I　wish　you　would　not　praise　one　so　little　deserving
it。〃

〃Praise？〃　she　repeated；　with　an　accent　of　wonder。　〃I　praise　you！
No；　Mr。　Sutherland；　that　I　am　not　guilty　of。　　Next　to　my　father；
you　made　me　know　and　feel。　　And　as　I　walked　here；　I　was　thinking　of
the　old　times；　and　older　times　still；　and　all　at　once　I　saw　the　very
picture　out　of　the　old　Bible。〃

She　came　close　to　him　now。　　He　rose；　trembling；　but　held　out　no
hand；　uttered　no　greeting。

〃Margaret；　dare　I　love　you？〃　he　faltered。

She　looked　at　him　with　wide…open　eyes。

〃Me？〃　she　said；　and　her　eyes　did　not　move　from　his。　　A　slight
rose…flush　bloomed　out　on　her　motionless　face。

〃Will　you　be　my　wife？〃　he　said；　trembling　yet　more。

She　made　no　answer；　but　looked　at　him　still；　with　parted　lips；
motionless。

〃I　am　very　poor；　Margaret。　　I　could　not　marry　now。〃

It　was　a　stupid　speech；　but　he　made　it。

〃I　don't　care；〃　she　answered；　with　a　voice　like　thinking；　〃if　you
never　marry　me。〃

He　misunderstood　her；　and　turned　cold　to　the　very　heart。　　He
misunderstood　her　stillness。　　Her　heart　lay　so　deep；　that　it　took　a
long　time　for　its　feelings　to　reach　and　agitate　the　surface。　　He
said　no　more；　but　turned　away　with　a　sigh。

〃Come　home　to　my　mother；〃　she　said。

He　obeyed　mechanically；　and　walked　in　silence　by　her　side。　　They
reached　the　cottage　and　entered。　　Margaret　said：　〃Here　he　is；
mother；〃　and　disappeared。

Janet　was　seatedin　her　widow's　mutch；　with　the　plain　black　ribbon
down　both　sides；　and　round　the　backin　the　arm…chair　by　the　fire；
pondering　on　the　past；　or　gently　dreaming　of　him　that　was　gone。　　She
turned　her　head。　　Sorrow　had　baptized　her　face　with　a　new
gentleness。　　The　tender　expression　which　had　been　but　occasional
while　her　husband　lived；　was　almost　constant　now。　　She　did　not
recognize　Hugh。　He　saw　it；　and　it　added　weight　to　his　despair。　　He
was　left　outside。

〃Mother！〃　he　said；　involuntarily。

She　started　to　her　feet；　cried：　〃My　bairn！　my　bairn！〃　threw　her　arms
around　him；　and　laid　her　head　on　his　bosom。　　Hugh　sobbed　as　if　his
heart　would　break。　　Janet　wept；　but　her　weeping　was　quiet　as　a
summer　rain。　　He　led　her　to　her　chair；　knelt　by　her　side；　and　hiding
his　face　in　her　lap　like　a　child；　faltered　out；　interrupted　by
convulsive　sobs：

〃Forgive　me；　forgive　me。　　I　don't　deserve　it；　but　forgive　me。〃

〃Hoot　awa！　my　bairn！　my　bonny　man！　　Dinna　greet　that　gait。　　The　Lord
preserve's！　what　are　ye　greetin'　for？　　Are　na　ye　come　hame　to　yer
ain？　　Didna　Dawvid　aye　say'Gie　the　lad　time；　woman。　　It's　unco
chaip；　for　the　Lord's　aye　makin't。　　The　best　things　is　aye　the　maist
plentifu'。　　Gie　the　lad　time；　my　bonny　woman！'didna　he　say　that？
Ay；　he　ca'd　me　his　bonny　woman；　ill　as　I　deserved　it　at　his　han'。
An'　it's　no　for　me　to　say　ae　word　agen　you；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　gin
ye　had　been　a　hantle　waur　nor　a　young　thochtless　lad　cudna　weel　help
bein'。　　An'　noo　ye're　come　hame；　an'　nothing　cud　glaidden　my　heart
mair；　'cep'；　maybe；　the　Maister　himsel'　was　to　say　to　my　man：
'Dawvid！　come　furth。'〃

Hugh　could　make　no　reply。　　He　got　hold　of　Margaret's　creepie；　which
stood　in　its　usual　place；　and　sat　down　upon　it；　at　the　old　woman's
feet。　　She　gazed　in　his　face　for　a　while；　and　then；　putting　her　arm
round　his　neck；　drew　his　head　to　her　bosom；　and　fondled　him　as　if　he
had　been　her　own　first…born。

〃But　eh！　yer　bonnie　face　is　sharp　an'　sma'　to　what　it　used　to　be；
Maister　Sutherlan'。　　I　doot　ye　hae　come　through　a　heap　o'　trouble。〃

〃I'll　tell　you　all　about　it；〃　said　Hugh。

〃Na；　na；　bide　still　a　wee。　　I　ken　a'　aboot　it　frae　Maggy。　　An'　guid
preserve's！　ye're　clean　perished　wi'　cauld。　　Lat　me　up；　my　bairn。〃

Janet　rose；　and　made　up　the　fire；　which　soon　cast　a　joyful　glow
throughout　the　room。　　The　peat…fire　in　the　little　cottage　was　a　good
symbol　of　the　heart　of　its　mistress：　it　gave　far　more　heat　than
light。　　And　for　my　part；　dear　as　light　is；　I　like　heat　better。　　She
then　put　on　the　kettle；or　the　boiler　I　think　she　called
itsaying：

〃I'm　jist　gaein'　to　mak'　ye　a　cup　o'　tay；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。　　It's　the
handiest　thing；　ye　ken。　　An'　I　doot　ye're　muckle　in　want　o'
something。　　Wad　ye　no　tak'　a　drappy　oot　o'　the　bottle；　i'　the　mane
time？〃

〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　Hugh；　who　longed　to　be　alone；　for　his　heart
was　cold　as　ice；　〃I　would　rather　wait　for　the　tea；　but　I　should　be
glad　to　have　a　good　wash；　after　my　journey。〃

〃Come　yer　wa's；　than；　ben　the　hoose。　　I'll　jist　gang　an'　get　a
drappy　o'　het　water　in　a　decanter。　　Bide　ye　still　by　the　fire。〃

Hugh　stood；　and　gazed　into　the　peat…fire。　　But　he　saw　nothing　in　it。
A　light　step　passed　him　several　times；　but　he　did　not　heed　it。　　The
loveliest　eyes　looked　earnestly　towards　him　as　they　passed；　but　his
were　not　lifted　to　meet　their　gaze。

〃Noo；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　come　this　way。〃

Hugh　was　left　alone　at　length；　in　the　room　where　David　had　slept；
where　David　had　used　to　pray。　　He　fell　on　his　knees；　and　rose
comfort