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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 think more highly of his office than had been their wont。
The laird would now and then invite him to join him in a tumbler of
toddy after dinner； or in a ride round the farm after school hours。
But it must be confessed that these approaches to friendliness were
rather irksome to Hugh； for whatever the laird might have been as a
collegian； he was certainly now nothing more than a farmer。 Where
David Elginbrod would have described many a 〃bonny sicht；〃 the laird
only saw the probable results of harvest； in the shape of figures in
his banking book。 On one occasion； Hugh roused his indignation by
venturing to express his admiration of the delightful mingling of
colours in a field where a good many scarlet poppies grew among the
green blades of the corn； indicating； to the agricultural eye； the
poverty of the soil where they were found。 This fault in the soil；
the laird； like a child； resented upon the poppies themselves。
〃Nasty； ugly weyds！ We'll hae ye admirin' the smut neist；〃 said he；
contemptuously； 〃'cause the bairns can bleck ane anither's faces
wi't。〃
〃But surely；〃 said Hugh； 〃putting other considerations aside； you
must allow that the colour； especially when mingled with that of the
corn； is beautiful。〃
〃Deil hae't！ It's jist there 'at I canna bide the sicht o't。
Beauty ye may ca' 't！ I see nane o't。 I'd as sune hae a
reid…heedit bairn； as see thae reid…coatit rascals i' my corn。 I
houp ye're no gaen to cram stuff like that into the heeds o' the twa
laddies。 Faith！ we'll hae them sawin' thae ill…faured weyds amang
the wheyt neist。 Poapies ca' ye them？ Weel I wat they're the
Popp's ain bairns； an' the scarlet wumman to the mither o' them。
Ha！ ha！ ha！〃
Having manifested both wit and Protestantism in the closing sentence
of his objurgation； the laird relapsed into good humour and
stupidity。 Hugh would gladly have spent such hours in David's
cottage instead； but he was hardly prepared to refuse his company to
Mr。 Glasford。
CHAPTER VI。
THE LAIRD'S LADY。
Ye archewyves； standith at defence；
Sin ye been strong； as is a great camayle；
Ne suffer not that men you don offence。
And slender wives； fell as in battaile；
Beth eager； as is a tiger； yond in Inde；
Aye clappith as a mill； I you counsaile。
CHAUCER。The Clerk's Tale。
The length and frequency of Hugh's absences； careless as she was of
his presence； had already attracted the attention of Mrs。 Glasford；
and very little trouble had to be expended on the discovery of his
haunt。 For the servants knew well enough where he went； and of
course had come to their own conclusions as to the object of his
visits。 So the lady chose to think it her duty to expostulate with
Hugh on the subject。 Accordingly； one morning after breakfast； the
laird having gone to mount his horse； and the boys to have a few
minutes' play before lessons； Mrs。 Glasford； who had kept her seat
at the head of the table； waiting for the opportunity； turned
towards Hugh who sat reading the week's news； folded her hands on
the tablecloth； drew herself up yet a little more stiffly in her
chair； and thus addressed him：
〃It's my duty； Mr。 Sutherland； seein' ye have no mother to look
after ye〃
Hugh expected something matronly about his linen or his socks； and
put down his newspaper with a smile； but； to his astonishment； she
went on
〃To remonstrate wi' ye； on the impropriety of going so often to
David Elginbrod's。 They're not company for a young gentleman like
you； Mr。 Sutherland。〃
〃They're good enough company for a poor tutor； Mrs。 Glasford；〃
replied Hugh； foolishly enough。
〃Not at all； not at all；〃 insisted the lady。 〃With your
connexions〃
〃Good gracious！ who ever said anything about my connexions？ I never
pretended to have any。〃 Hugh was getting angry already。
Mrs。 Glasford nodded her head significantly； as much as to say； 〃I
know more about you than you imagine；〃 and then went on：
〃Your mother will never forgive me if you get into a scrape with
that smooth…