But one evening； while reading the Heart of Midlothian； the thought
struck himwhat a character David would have been for Sir Walter。
Whether he was right or not is a question； but the notion brought
David so vividly before him； that it roused the desire to see him。
He closed the book at once； and went to the cottage。
〃We're no lik'ly to ca' ye onything but a stranger yet； Maister
Sutherlan'；〃 said David； as he entered。
〃I've been busy since I saw you；〃 was all the excuse Hugh offered。
〃Weel； ye'r welcome noo； and ye've jist come in time after a'； for
it's no that mony hours sin' I fand it oot awthegither to my ain
settisfaction。〃
〃Found out what？〃 said Hugh； for he had forgotten all about the
perplexity in which he had left David； and which had been occupying
his thoughts ever since their last interview。
〃Aboot the cross…bow an' the birdie； ye ken；〃 answered David； in a
tone of surprise。
〃Yes； to be sure。 How stupid of me！〃 said Hugh。
〃Weel； ye see； the meanin' o' the haill ballant is no that ill to
win at； seein' the poet himsel' tells us that。 It's jist no to be
proud or ill…natured to oor neebours； the beasts and birds； for God
made ane an' a' o's。 But there's harder things in't nor that； and
yon's the hardest。 But ye see it was jist an unlucky thochtless
deed o' the puir auld sailor's； an' I'm thinkin' he was sair
reprocht in's hert the minit he did it。 His mates was fell angry at
him； no for killin' the puir innocent craytur； but for fear o' ill
luck in consequence。 Syne when nane followed； they turned richt
roun'； an' took awa' the character o' the puir beastie efter 'twas
deid。 They appruved o' the verra thing 'at he was nae doot sorry
for。But onything to haud aff o' themsels！ Nae suner cam the calm；
than roun' they gaed again like the weathercock； an' naething wad
content them bit hingin' the deid craytur about the auld man's
craig； an' abusin' him forby。 Sae ye see hoo they war a wheen
selfish crayturs； an' a hantle waur nor the man 'at was led astray
into an ill deed。 But still he maun rue't。 Sae Death got them； an'
a kin' o' leevin' Death； a she Death as 'twar； an' in some respecks
may be waur than the ither； got grips o' him； puir auld body！ It's
a' fair and richt to the backbane o' the ballant； Maister
Sutherlan'； an' that I'se uphaud。〃
Hugh could not help feeling considerably astonished to hear this
criticism from the lips of one whom he considered an uneducated man。
For he did not know that there are many other educations besides a
college one； some of them tending far more than that to develope the
common…sense； or faculty of judging of things by their nature。 Life
intelligently met and honestly passed； is the best education of all；
except that higher one to which it is intended to lead； and to which
it had led David。 Both these educations； however； were nearly
unknown to the student of books。 But he was still more astonished
to hear from the lips of Margaret； who was sitting by：
〃That's it； father； that's it！ I was jist ettlin' efter that same
thing mysel； or something like it； but ye put it in the richt words
exackly。〃
The sound of her voice drew Hugh's eyes upon her： he was astonished
at the alteration in her countenance。 While she spoke it was
absolutely beautiful。 As soon as she ceased speaking； it settled
back into its former shadowless calm。 Her father gave her one
approving glance and nod； expressive of no surprise at her having
approached the same discovery as himself； but testifying pleasure at
the coincidence of their opinions。 Nothing was left for Hugh but to
express his satisfaction with the interpretation of the difficulty；
and to add； that the poem would henceforth possess fresh interest
for him。
After this； his visits became more frequent； and at length David
made a request which led to their greater frequency still。 It was
to this effect：
〃Do ye think； Mr。 Sutherlan'； I could do onything at my age at the
mathematics？ I unnerstan' weel eneuch hoo to measur' lan'； an' that
kin' o' thing。 I jist follow the rule。 But the rule itsel's a
puzzler to me。 I dinna understan' it by half。 Noo it seems to me
that the best o' a rule is； no to mak ye able to do a thing； but to
lead ye to what maks the rule richtto the prenciple o' the thing。
It's no 'at I'm misbelievin' the rule； but I want to see the richts
o't。〃
〃I've no doubt you could learn fast enough；〃 replied Hugh。 〃I shall
be very happy to help you with it。〃
〃Na； na； I'm no gaein to trouble you。 Ye hae eneuch to do in that
way。 But if ye could jist spare me ane or twa o' yer beuks
whilesony o' them 'at ye think proper； I sud be muckle obleeged te
ye。〃
Hugh promised and fulfilled； but the result was； that； before long；
both the father and the daughter were seated at the kitchen…table；
every evening； busy with Euclid and Algebra； and that； on most
evenings； Hugh was present as their instructor。 It was quite a new
pleasure to him。 Few delights surpass those of imparting knowledge
to the eager recipient。 What made Hugh's tutor…life irksome； was
partly the excess of his desire to communicate； over the desire of
his pupils to partake。 But here there was no labour。 All the
questions were asked by the scholars。 A single lesson had not
passed； however； before David put questions which Hugh was unable to
answer； and concerning which he was obliged to confess his
ignorance。 Instead of being discouraged； as eager questioners are
very ready to be when they receive no answer； David merely said；
〃Weel； weel； we maun bide a wee；〃 and went on with what he was able
to master。 Meantime Margaret； though forced to lag a good way
behind her father； and to apply much more frequently to their tutor
for help； yet secured all she got； and that is great praise for any
student。 She was not by any means remarkably quick； but she knew
when she did not understand； and that is a sure and indispensable
step towards understanding。 It is indeed a rarer gift than the
power of understanding itself。
The gratitude of David was too deep to be expressed in any formal
thanks。 It broke out at times in two or three simple words when the
conversation presented an opportunity； or in the midst of their
work； as by its own self…birth； ungenerated by association。
During the lesson； which often lasted more than two hours； Janet
would be busy about the room； and in and out of it； with a manifest
care to suppress all unnecessary bustle。 As soon as Hugh made his
appearance； she would put off the stout shoesman's shoes； as we
should consider themwhich she always wore at other times； and put
on a pair of bauchles； that is； an old pair of her Sunday shoes； put
down at heel； and so converted into slippers； with which she could
move about less noisily。 At times her remarks would seem to imply
that she considered it rather absurd in her husband to trouble
himself with book…learning； but evidently on the ground that he knew
everything already that was worthy of the honour of his
acquaintance； whereas； with regard to Margaret； her heart was as
evidently full of pride at the idea of the education her daughter
was getting from the laird's own tutor。
Now and then she would stand still for a moment； and gaze at them；
with her bright black eyes； from under the white frills of her
mutch； her bare brown arms akimbo； and a look of pride upon her
equally brown honest face。
Her dress consisted of a wrapper； or short loose jacket； of printed
calico； and a blue winsey petticoat； which she had a habit of
tucking between her knees； to keep it out of harm's way； as often as
she stooped to any wet work； or； more especially； when doing
anything by the fire。 Margaret's dress was； in ordinary； like her
mother's； with the exception of the cap； but； every evening； when
their master was expected； she put off her wrapper； and substituted
a gown of the same material； a cotton print； and so； with her
plentiful dark hair gathered neatly under a net of brown silk； the
usual head…dress of girls in her position； both in and out of doors；
sat down dressed for the sacrament of wisdom。 David made no other
preparation than the usual evening washing of his large well…wrought
hands； and bathing of his head； covered with thick dark hair；
plentifully lined with grey； in a tub of cold water； from which his
face； which was 〃cremsin dyed ingrayne〃 by the weather； emerged
glowing。 He sat down at the table in his usual rough blue coat and
plain brass buttons； with his breeches of broad…striped corduroy；
his blue…ribbed stockings； and leather gaiters； or cuiticans；
disposed under the table； and his shoes； with five rows of
broad…headed nails in the soles； projecting from beneath it on the
other side； for he was a tall mansix feet still； although
five…and…fifty； and considerably bent in the shoulders with hard
work。 Sutherland's style was that of a gentleman who must wear out
his dress…coat。
Such was the group which； three or four evenings in the week； might
be seen in David Elginbrod's cottage； seated around the white deal
table； with their books and slates upon it； and searching； by the
light of a tallow candle； substituted as more convenient； for the
ordinary lamp； after the mysteries of the universe。
The influences of reviving nature and of genial companionship
operated very favourably upon Hugh's spirits； and consequently upon
his whole powers。 For some time he had； as I have already hinted；
succeeded in interesting his boy…pupils in their studies； and now
the progress they made began to be appreciable to themselves as well
as to their tutor。 This of course made them more happy and more
diligent。 There were no attempts now to work upon their parents for
a holiday； no real or pretended head or tooth…aches； whose
disability was urged against the greater torture of ill…conceded
mental labour。 They began in fact to understand； and； in proportion
to the beauty and value of the thing understood； to understand is to
enjoy。 Therefore the laird and his lady could not help seeing that
the boys were doing well； far better in fact than they had ever done
before； and consequently began not only to prize Hugh's services；
but to