to me； 'at hoo the bairns had never gotten on naething like it wi'
ony ither body。〃
〃The laird's ower ready wi's clavers；〃 quoth the laird's wife；
nettled to find herself in the wrong； and forgetful of her own and
her lord's dignity at once。 〃But；〃 she pursued； 〃all I can say is；
that I consider it verra improper o' you； wi' a young lass…bairn； to
encourage the nichtly veesits o' a young gentleman； wha's sae far
aboon her in station； an' dootless will some day be farther yet。〃
〃Mem！〃 said David； with dignity； 〃I'm willin' no to understan' what
ye mean。 My Maggy's no ane 'at needs luikin' efter； an' a body had
need to be carefu' an' no interfere wi' the Lord's herdin'； for he
ca's himsel' the Shepherd o' the sheep； an' wee！ as I loe her I maun
lea' him to lead them wha follow him wherever he goeth。 She'll be
no ill guidit； and I'm no gaeing to kep her at ilka turn。〃
〃Weel； weel！ that's yer ain affair； Dawvid； my man；〃 rejoined Mrs。
Glasford； with rising voice and complexion。 〃A' 'at I hae to add is
jist this： 'at as lang as my tutor veesits her〃
〃He veesits her no more than me； mem；〃 interposed David； but his
mistress went on with dignified disregard of the interruption
〃Veesits her； I canna； for the sake o' my own bairns； an' the morals
o' my hoosehold； employ her aboot the hoose； as I was in the way o'
doin' afore。 Good mornin'； Dawvid。 I'll speak to the laird
himsel'； sin' ye'll no heed me。〃
〃It's more to my lassie； mem； excuse me； to learn to unnerstan' the
works o' her Maker； than it is to be employed in your household。
Mony thanks； mem； for what ye hev' done in that way afore； an' good
mornin' to ye； mem。 I'm sorry we should hae ony misunderstandin'；
but I canna help it for my pairt。〃
With these words David withdrew； rather anxious about the
consequences to Hugh of this unpleasant interference on the part of
Mrs。 Glasford。 That lady's wrath kept warm without much nursing；
till the laird came home； when she turned the whole of her battery
upon him； and kept up a steady fire until he yielded； and promised
to turn his upon David。 But he had more common…sense than his wife
in some things； and saw at once how ridiculous it would be to treat
the affair as of importance。 So； the next time he saw David； he
addressed him half jocularly：
〃Weel； Dawvid； you an' the mistress hae been haein' a bit o' a
dispute thegither； eh？〃
〃Weel； sir； we warna a'thegither o' ae min'；〃 said David； with a
smile。
〃Weel； weel； we maun humour her； ye ken； or it may be the waur for
us a'； ye ken。〃 And the laird nodded with humorous significance。
〃I'm sure I sud be glaid； sir； but this is no sma' maitter to me an'
my Maggie； for we're jist gettin' food for the verra sowl； sir； frae
him an' his beuks。〃
〃Cudna ye be content wi the beuks wi'out the man； Dawvid？〃
〃We sud mak' but sma' progress； sir； that get。〃
The laird began to be a little nettled himself at David's stiffness
about such a small matter； and held his peace。 David resumed：
〃Besides； sir； that's a maitter for the young man to sattle； an' no
for me。 It wad ill become me； efter a' he's dune for us； to steek
the door in's face。 Na； na； as lang's I hae a door to haud open；
it's no to be steekit to him。〃
〃Efter a'； the door's mine； Dawvid；〃 said the laird。
〃As lang's I'm in your hoose an' in your service； sir； the door's
mine；〃 retorted David； quietly。
The laird turned and rode away without another word。 What passed
between him and his wife never transpired。 Nothing more was said to
Hugh as long as he remained at Turriepuffit。 But Margaret was never
sent for to the House after this； upon any occasion whatever。 The
laird gave her a nod as often as he saw her； but the lady； if they
chanced to meet； took no notice of her。 Margaret； on her part；
stood or passed with her eyes on the ground； and no further change
of countenance than a slight flush of discomfort。
The lessons went on as usual； and happy hours they were for all
those concerned。 Often； in after years； and in far different
circumstances； the thoughts of Hugh reverted； with a painful
yearning； to the dim…lighted cottage； with its clay floor and its
deal table； to the earnest pair seated with him at the labours that
unfold the motions of the stars； and even to the homely； thickset；
but active form of Janet； and that peculiar smile of hers with
which； after an apparently snappish speech； spoken with her back to
the person addressed； she would turn round her honest face
half…apologetically； and shine full upon some one or other of the
three； whom she honoured with her whole heart and soul； and who； she
feared； might be offended at what she called her 〃hame…ower fashion
of speaking。〃 Indeed it was wonderful what a share the motherhood
of this woman； incapable as she was of entering into the
intellectual occupations of the others； had in producing that sense
of home…blessedness； which inwrapt Hugh also in the folds of its
hospitality； and drew him towards its heart。 Certain it is that not
one of the three would have worked so well without the sense of the
presence of Janet； here and there about the room； or in the
immediate neighbourhood of itlove watching over labour。 Once a
week； always on Saturday nights； Hugh stayed to supper with them：
and on these occasions； Janet contrived to have something better
than ordinary in honour of their guest。 Still it was of the
homeliest country fare； such as Hugh could partake of without the
least fear that his presence occasioned any inconvenience to his
entertainers。 Nor was Hugh the only giver of spiritual food。
Putting aside the rich gifts of human affection and sympathy； which
grew more and more pleasantI can hardly use a stronger word
yetto Hugh every day； many things were spoken by the simple wisdom
of David； which would have enlightened Hugh far more than they did；
had he been sufficiently advanced to receive them。 But their very
simplicity was often far beyond the grasp of his thoughts； for the
higher we rise； the simpler we become； and David was one of those of
whom is the kingdom of Heaven。 There is a childhood into which we
have to grow； just as there is a childhood which we must leave
behind； a childlikeness which is the highest gain of humanity； and a
childishness from which but few of those who are counted the wisest
among men； have freed themselves in their imagined progress towards
the reality of things。
CHAPTER VII。
THE SECRET OF THE WOOD。
The unthrift sunne shot vitall gold；
A thousand pieces；
And heaven its azure did unfold；
Chequered with snowy fleeces。
The air was all in spice；
And every bush
A garland wore： Thus fed my Eyes；
But all the Eare lay hush。
HENRY VAUGHAN。
It was not in mathematics alone that Hugh Sutherland was serviceable
to Margaret Elginbrod。 That branch of study had been chosen for her
father； not for her； but her desire to learn had led her to lay hold
upon any mental provision with which the table happened to be
spread； and the more eagerly that her father was a guest at the same
feast。 Before long； Hugh bethought him that it might possibly be of
service to her； in the course of her reading； if he taught her
English a little more thoroughly than she had probably picked it up
at the parish school； to which she had been in the habit of going
till within a very short period of her acquaintance with the
tutor。The English reader must not suppose the term parish school
to mean what the same term would mean if used in England。 Boys and
girls of very different ranks go to the Scotch parish schools； and
the fees are so small as to place their education within the reach
of almost the humblest means。To his proposal to this effect
Margaret responded thankfully； and it gave Hugh an opportunity of
directing her attention to many of the more delicate distinctions in
literature； for the appreciation of which she manifested at once a
remarkable aptitude。
Coleridge's poems had been read long ago； some of them； indeed；
almost committed to memory in the process of repeated perusal。 No
doubt a good many of them must have been as yet too abstruse for
her； not in the least； however； from inaptitude in her for such
subjects as they treated of； but simply because neither the terms
nor the modes of thought could possibly have been as yet presented
to her in so many different positions as to enable her to comprehend
their scope。 Hugh lent her Sir Walter's poems next； but those she
read at an eye…glance。 She returned the volume in a week； saying
merely； they were 〃verra bonnie stories。〃 He saw at once that； to
have done them justice with the girl； he ought to have lent them
first。 But that could not be helped now； and what should come next？
Upon this he took thought。 His library was too small to cause much
perplexity of choice； but for a few days he continued undecided。
Meantime the interest he felt in his girl…pupil deepened greatly。
She became a kind of study to him。 The expression of her
countenance was far inferior to her intelligence and power of
thought。 It was still to excessalmost dull in ordinary； not from
any fault in the mould of the features； except； perhaps； in the
upper lip； which seemed deficient in drawing； if I may be allowed
the expression； but from the absence of that light which indicates
the presence of active thought and feeling within。 In this respect
her face was like the earthen pitcher of Gideon： it concealed the
light。 She seemed to have； to a peculiar degree； the faculty of
retiring inside。 But now and then； while he was talking to her； and
doubtful； from the lack of expression； whether she was even
listening with attention to what he was saying； her face would
lighten up with a radiant smile of intelligence； not； however；
throwing the light upon him； and in a moment reverting to its former
condition of still twilight。 Her person seemed not to be as yet
thoroughly possessed or informed by her spirit。 It sat apart within
her； and there was no ready transit from her heart to her face。
This lack of presence in the face is quite common in pretty
school…girls and rustic beauties； but it was manifest to an