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〃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 unusual
degree in the case of Margaret。 Yet most of the forms and lines in
her face were lovely； and when the light did shine through them for
a passing moment； her countenance seemed absolutely beautiful。
Hence it grew into an almost haunting temptation with Hugh； to try
to produce this expression； to unveil the coy light of the beautiful
soul。 Often he tried； often he failed； and sometimes he succeeded。
Had they been alone it might have become dangerousI mean for
Hugh； I cannot tell for Margaret。
When they first met； she had just completed her seventeenth year；
but； at an age when a town…bred girl is all but a woman； her manners
were those of a child。 This childishness； however； soon began to
disappear； and the peculiar stillness of her face； of which I have
already said so much； made her seem older than she was。
It was now early summer； and all the other trees in the woodof
which there were not many besides the firs of various kindshad put
on their fresh leaves； heaped up in green clouds between the
wanderer and the heavens。 In the morning the sun shone so clear
upon these； that； to the eyes of one standing beneath； the light
seemed to dissolve them away to the most ethereal forms of glorified
foliage。 They were to be claimed for earth only by the shadows that
the one cast upon the other； visible from below through the
transparent leaf。 This effect is very lovely in the young season of
the year； when the leaves are more delicate and less crowded； and
especially in the early morning； when the light is most clear and
penetrating。 By the way； I do not think any man is compelled to bid
good…bye to his childhood： every man may feel young in the morning；
middle…aged in the afternoon； and old at night。 A day corresponds
to a life； and the portions of the one are 〃pictures in little〃 of
the seasons of the other。 Thus far man may rule even time； and
gather up； in a perfect being； youth and age at once。
One morning； about six o'clock； Hugh； who had