knowledge of all that was going on； that his entertainer soon saw
his opinion must be worth something whether his fancies were or not。
CHAPTER XXIV。
STEPHEN KENNEDY。
The great comforts of Donal's life； next to those of the world in
which his soul livedthe eternal world； whose doors are ever open
to him who prayswere the society of his favourite books； the
fashioning of his thoughts into sweetly ordered sounds in the lofty
solitude of his chamber； and not infrequent communion with the
cobbler and his wife。 To these he had as yet said nothing of what
went on at the castle： he had learned the lesson the cobbler himself
gave him。 But many a lesson of greater value did he learn from the
philosopher of the lapstone。 He who understands because he
endeavours； is a freed man of the realm of human effort。 He who has
no experience of his own； to him the experience of others is a
sealed book。 The convictions that in Donal rose vaporous were
rapidly condensed and shaped when he found his new friend thought
likewise。
By degrees he made more and more of a companion of Davie； and such
was the sweet relation between them that he would sometimes have him
in his room even when he was writing。 When it was time to lay in
his winter…fuel； he said to him
〃Up here； Davie； we must have a good fire when the nights are long；
the darkness will be like solid cold。 Simmons tells me I may have
as much coal and wood as I like： will you help me to get them up？〃
Davie sprang to his feet： he was ready that very minute。
〃I shall never learn my lessons if I am cold；〃 added Donal； who
could not bear a low temperature so well as when he was always in
the open air。
〃Do you learn lessons； Mr。 Grant？〃
〃Yes indeed I do；〃 replied Donal。 〃One great help to the
understanding of things is to brood over them as a hen broods over
her eggs： words are thought…eggs； and their chickens are truths； and
in order to brood I sometimes learn by heart。 I have set myself to
learn； before the winter is over if I can； the gospel of John in the
Greek。〃
〃What a big lesson！〃 exclaimed Davie。
〃Ah； but how rich it will make me！〃 said Donal； and that set Davie
pondering。
They began to carry up the fuel； Donal taking the coals； and Davie
the wood。 But Donal got weary of the time it took； and set himself
to find a quicker way。 So next Saturday afternoon； the rudimentary
remnant of the Jewish Sabbath； and the schoolboy's weekly carnival
before Lent； he directed his walk to a certain fishing village； the
nearest on the coast； about three miles off； and there succeeded in
hiring a spare boat…spar with a block and tackle。 The spar he ran
out； through a notch of the battlement； near the sheds； and having
stayed it well back； rove the rope through the block at the peak of
it； and lowered it with a hook at the end。 A moment of Davie's help
below； and a bucket filled with coals was on its way up： this part
of the roof was over a yard belonging to the household offices； and
Davie filled the bucket from a heap they had there made。 〃Stand
back； Davie；〃 Donal would cry； and up would go the bucket； to the
ever renewed delight of the boy。 When it reached the block； Donal；
by means of a guy； swung the spar on its but…end； and the bucket
came to the roof through the next notch of the battlement。 There he
would empty it； and in a moment it would be down again to be
re…filled。 When he thought he had enough of coal； he turned to the
wood； and thus they spent an hour of a good many of the cool
evenings of autumn。 Davie enjoyed it immensely； and it was no small
thing for a boy delicately nurtured to be helped out of the feeling
that he must have every thing done for him。 When after a time he
saw the heap on the roof； he was greatly impressed with the amount
that could be done by little and little。 In return Donal told him
that if he worked well through the week； he should every Saturday
evening spend an hour with him by the fire he had thus helped to
provide； and they would then do something together。
After his first visit Donal went again and again to the village： he
had made acquaintance with some of the people； and liked them。
There was one man； however； who； although； attracted by his look
despite its apparent sullenness； he had tried to draw him into
conversation； seemed to avoid； almost to resent his advances。 But
one day as he was walking home； Stephen Kennedy overtook him； and
saying he was going in his direction； walked alongside of himto
the pleasure of Donal； who loved all humanity； and especially the
portion of it acquainted with hard work。 He was a middle…sized
young fellow； with a slouching walk； but a well shaped and well set
head； and a not uncomely countenance。 He was brown as sun and salt
sea…winds could make him； and had very blue eyes and dark hair；
telling of Norwegian ancestry。 He lounged along with his hands in
his pockets； as if he did not care to walk； yet got over the ground
as fast as Donal； who； with yet some remnant of the peasant's
stride； covered the ground as if he meant walking。 After their
greeting a great and enduring silence fell； which lasted till the
journey was half…way over； then all at once the fisherman spoke。
〃There's a lass at the castel； sir；〃 he said； 〃they ca' Eppy Comin。〃
〃There is；〃 answered Donal。
〃Do ye ken the lass； sirto speak til her； I mean？〃
〃Surely；〃 replied Donal。 〃I know her grandfather and grandmother
well。〃
〃Dacent fowk！〃 said Stephen。
〃They are that！〃 responded Donal； 〃as good people as I know！〃
〃Wud ye du them a guid turn？〃 asked the fisherman。
〃Indeed I would！〃
〃Weel； it's this； sir： I hae grit doobts gien a' be gaein' verra
weel wi' the lass at the castel。〃
As he said the words he turned his head aside； and spoke so low and
in such a muffled way that Donal could but just make out what he
said。
〃You must be a little plainer if you would have me do anything；〃 he
returned。
〃I'll be richt plain wi' ye； sir；〃 answered Stephen； and then fell
silent as if he would never speak again。
Donal waited； nor uttered a sound。 At last he spoke once more。
〃Ye maun ken； sir；〃 he said 〃I hae had a fancy to the lass this mony
a day； for ye'll alloo she's baith bonny an' winsome！〃
Donal did not reply； for although he was ready to grant her bonny；
he had never felt her winsome。
〃Weel；〃 he went on； 〃her an' me 's been coortin' this twa year； an'
guid freen's we aye was till this last spring； whan a' at ance she
turnt highty…tighty like； nor； du what I micht； could I get her to
say what it was 'at cheengt her： sae far as I kenned I had dune
naething； nor wad she say I had gi'en her ony cause o' complaint。
But though she couldna say I had ever gi'en mair nor a ceevil word
to ony lass but hersel'； she appeart unco wullin' to fix me wi' this
ane an' that ane or ony ane！ I couldna think what had come ower
her！ But at lastan' a sair last it is！I hae come to the
un'erstan'in o' 't： she wud fain hae a pretence for br'akin' wi' me！
She wad hae 't 'at I was duin' as she was duin' hersel'haudin'
company wi' anither！〃
〃Are you quite sure of what you say？〃 asked Donal。
〃Ower sure； sir； though I'm no at leeberty to tell ye hoo I cam to
be。Dinna think； sir； 'at I'm ane to haud a lass til her word whan
her hert disna back it； I wud hae said naething aboot it； but jist
borne the hert…brak wi' the becomin' silence； for greitin' nor
ragin' men' no nets； nor tak the life o' nae dogfish。 But it's
God's trowth； sir； I'm terrible feart for the lassie hersel'。 She's
that ta'en up wi' him； they tell me； 'at she can think o' naething
but him； an' he's a yoong lord； no a puir lad like mean' that's
what fears me！〃
A great dread and a great compassion together laid hold of Donal；
but he did not speak。
〃Gien it cam to that；〃 resumed Stephen； 〃I doobt the fisher…lad wud
win her better breid nor my lord； for gien a' tales be true； he wud
hae to work for his ain breid； the castel 's no his； nor canna be
'cep' he merry the leddy o' 't。 But it's no merryin' Eppy he'll be
efter； or ony the likes o' 'im！〃
〃You don't surely hint；〃 said Donal； 〃that there's anything between
her and lord Forgue？ She must be an idle girl to take such a thing
into her head！〃
〃I wuss weel she hae ta'en 't intil her heid！ she'll get it the
easier oot o' her hert？ But 'deed； sir； I'm sair feart！ I speakna
o' 't for my ain sake； for gien there be trowth intil't； there can
never be mair 'atween her and me！ But； eh； sir； the peety o' 't wi'
sic a bonny lass！for he canna mean fair by her！ Thae gran' fowk
does fearsome things！ It's sma' won'er 'at whiles the puir fowk
rises wi' a roar； an' tears doon a'； as they did i' France！〃
〃All you say is quite true； but the charge is such a serious one！〃
〃It is that； sir！ But though it be true； I'm no gaein' to mak it
'afore the warl'。〃
〃You are right there： it could do no good。〃
〃I fear it may du as little whaur I am gaein' to mak it！ I'm upo'
my ro'd to gar my lord gie an accoont o' himsel'。 Faith； gien it
bena a guid ane； I'll thraw the neck o' 'im！ It's better me to
hang； nor her to gang disgraced； puir thing！ She can be naething
mair to me； as I say； but I wud like weel the wringin' o' a lord's
neck！ It wud be like killin' a shark！〃
〃Why do you tell me this？〃 asked Donal。
〃'Cause I look to you to get me to word o' the man。〃
〃That you may wring his neck？You should not have told me that： I
should be art and part in his murder！〃
〃Wud ye hae me lat the lassie tak her chance ohn dune onything？〃
said the fisherman with scorn。
〃By no means。 I would do something myself whoever the girl wasand
she is the granddaughter of my best friends。〃
〃Sir； ye winna surely fail me！〃
〃I will help you somehow； but I will not do what you want me。 I
will turn the thing over in my mind。 I promise you I will do
somethingwhat； I cannot say offhand。 You had better go home
again； and I will come to you to…morrow。〃
〃Na； na； that winna do！〃 said the man； half doggedly； half fiercely。
〃The hert ill be oot o' my body gien I dinna du something！ This
verra nicht it maun be dune！ I canna bide in hell ony langer。 The
thoucht o' the rasc