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her for a moment with some interest； when she； seeming to become
mesmerically aware that she was not alone； looked up； blushed
deeply； put down the book in confusion； and proceeded to dust some
of the furniture。 It was his first sight of Margaret。 Some of the
neighbours were expected to dinner； and her aid was in requisition
to get the grand room of the house prepared for the occasion。 He
supposed her to belong to the household； till； one day； feeling
compelled to go out for a stroll； he caught sight of her so occupied
at the door of her father's cottage； that he perceived at once that
must be her home： she was； in fact； seated upon a stool； paring
potatoes。 She saw him as well； and； apparently ashamed at the
recollection of having been discovered idling in the drawing…room；
rose and went in。 He had met David once or twice about the house；
and； attracted by his appearance； had had some conversation with
him； but he did not know where he lived； nor that he was the father
of the girl whom he had seen。
CHAPTER III。
THE DAISY AND THE PRIMROSE。
Dear secret Greenness； nursed below
Tempests and winds and winter nights！
Vex not that but one sees thee grow；
That One made all these lesser lights。
HENRY VAUGHAN。
It was； of course； quite by accident that Sutherland had met
Margaret in the fir…wood。 The wind had changed during the night；
and swept all the clouds from the face of the sky； and when he
looked out in the morning； he saw the fir…tops waving in the
sunlight； and heard the sound of a south…west wind sweeping through
them with the tune of running waters in its course。 It is a
well…practised ear that can tell whether the sound it hears be that
of gently falling waters； or of wind flowing through the branches of
firs。 Sutherland's heart； reviving like a dormouse in its hole；
began to be joyful at the sight of the genial motions of Nature；
telling of warmth and blessedness at hand。 Some goal of life； vague
but sure； seemed to glimmer through the appearances around him； and
to stimulate him to action。 Be dressed in haste； and went out to
meet the Spring。 He wandered into the heart of the wood。 The
sunlight shone like a sunset upon the red trunks and boughs of the
old fir…trees； but like the first sunrise of the world upon the new
green fringes that edged the young shoots of the larches。 High up；
hung the memorials of past summers in the rich brown tassels of the
clustering cones； while the ground under foot was dappled with
sunshine on the fallen fir…needles； and the great fallen cones which
had opened to scatter their autumnal seed； and now lay waiting for
decay。 Overhead； the tops whence they had fallen； waved in the
wind； as in welcome of the Spring； with that peculiar swinging
motion which made the poets of the sixteenth century call them
〃sailing pines。〃 The wind blew cool； but not cold； and was filled
with a delicious odour from the earth； which Sutherland took as a
sign that she was coming alive at last。 And the Spring he went out
to meet； met him。 For； first； at the foot of a tree； he spied a
tiny primrose； peeping out of its rough； careful leaves； and he
wondered how； by any metamorphosis； such leaves could pass into such
a flower。 Had he seen the mother of the next spring…messenger he
was about to meet； the same thought would have returned in another
form。 For； next； as he passed on with the primrose in his hand；
thinking it was almost cruel to pluck it； the Spring met him； as if
in her own shape； in the person of Margaret； whom he spied a little
way off； leaning against the stem of a Scotch fir； and looking up to
its top swaying overhead in the first billows of the outburst ocean
of life。 He went up to her with some shyness； for the presence of
even a child…maiden was enough to make Sutherland shypartly from
the fear of startling her shyness； as one feels when drawing near a
couching fawn。 But she； when she heard his footsteps； dropped her
eyes slowly from the tree…top； and； as if she were in her own
sanctuary； waited his approach。 He said nothing at first； but
offered her； instead of speech； the primrose he had just plucked；
which she received with a smile of the eyes only； and the sweetest
〃thank you； sir；〃 he had ever heard。 But while she held the
primrose in her hand； her eyes wandered to the book which； according
to his custom； Sutherland had caught up as he left the house。 It
was the only well…bound book in his possession； and the eyes of
Margaret； not yet tutored by experience； naturally expected an
entrancing page within such beautiful boards； for the gayest
bindings she had seen； were those of a few old annuals up at the
houseand were they not full of the most lovely tales and pictures？
In this case； however； her expectation was not vain； for the volume
was； as I have already disclosed； Coleridge's Poems。
Seeing her eyes fixed upon the book〃Would you like to read it？〃
said he。
〃If you please； sir；〃 answered Margaret； her eyes brightening with
the expectation of deliglit。
〃Are you fond of poetry？〃
Her face fell。 The only poetry she knew was the Scotch Psalms and
Paraphrases； and such last…century verses as formed the chief part
of the selections in her school…books； for this was a very retired
parish； and the newer books had not yet reached its school。 She had
hoped chiefly for tales。
〃I dinna ken much about poetry；〃 she answered； trying to speak
English。 〃There's an old book o't on my father's shelf； but the
letters o't are auld…fashioned； an' I dinna care aboot it。〃
〃But this is quite easy to read； and very beautiful；〃 said Hugh。
The girl's eyes glistened for a moment； and this was all her reply。
〃Would you like to read it？〃 resumed Hugh； seeing no further answer
was on the road。
She held out her hand towards the volume。 When he； in his turn；
held the volume towards her hand； she almost snatched it from him；
and ran towards the house； without a word of thanks or
leave…takingwhether from eagerness； or doubt of the propriety of
accepting the offer； Hugh could not conjecture。 He stood for some
moments looking after her； and then retraced his steps towards the
house。
It would have been something； in the monotony of one of the most
trying of positions； to meet one who snatched at the offered means
of spiritual growth； even if that disciple had not been a lovely
girl； with the woman waking in her eyes。 He commenced the duties of
the day with considerably more of energy than he had yet brought to
bear on his uninteresting pupils； and this energy did not flag
before its effects upon the boys began to react in fresh impulse
upon itself。
CHAPTER IV。
THE COTTAGE。
O little Bethlem！ poor in walls；
But rich in furniture。
JOHN MASON'S Spiritual Songs。
There was one great alleviation to the various discomforts of
Sutherland's tutor…life。 It was； that； except during school…hours；
he was expected to take no charge whatever of his pupils。 They ran
wild all other times； which was far better； in every way； both for
them and for him。 Consequently； he was entirely his own master
beyond the fixed margin of scholastic duties； and he soon found that
his absence； even from the table； was a matter of no interest to the
family。 To be sure； it involved his own fasting till the next
meal…time came roundfor the lady was quite a household martinet；
but that was his own concern。
That very evening； he made his way to David's cottage； about the
country supper…time； when he thought he should most likely find him
at home。 It was a clear； still； moonlit night； with just an air of
frost。 There was light enough for him to see that the cottage was
very neat and tidy； looking； in the midst of its little forest； more
like an English than a Scotch habitation。 He had had the advantage
of a few months' residence in a leafy region on the other side of
the Tweed； and so was able to make the comparison。 But what a
different leafage that was from this！ That was soft； floating；
billowy； this hard； stiff； and straight…lined； interfering so little
with the skeleton form； that it needed not to be put off in the
wintry season of death； to make the trees in harmony with the
landscape。 A light was burning in the cottage； visible through the
inner curtain of muslin； and the outer one of frost。 As he
approached the door； he heard the sound of a voice； and from the
even pitch of the tone； he concluded at once that its owner was
reading aloud。 The measured cadence soon convinced him that it was
verse that was being read； and the voice was evidently that of
David； and not of Margaret。 He knocked at the door。 The voice
ceased； chairs were pushed back； and a heavy step approached。 David
opened the door himself。
〃Eh！ Maister Sutherlan'；〃 said he； 〃I thocht it micht aiblins be
yersel。 Ye're welcome； sir。 Come butt the hoose。 Our place is but
sma'； but ye'll no min' sitttin' doon wi' our ain sels。 Janet；
ooman； this is Maister Sutherlan'。 Maggy； my doo； he's a frien' o'
yours； o' a day auld； already。 Ye're kindly welcome； Maister
Sutherlan'。 I'm sure it's verra kin' o' you to come an' see the
like o' huz。〃
As Hugh entered； h