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creature！ Now I know there was more life in her trouble than in my
content。 I came not only to love her； but to look up to her as a
saint： if ever there was one； it was she； Mr。 Grant。 She often came
here after I showed her that poem。 She used to walk here alone in
the twilight。 That horrid Miss Carmichael！ she was the plague of her
life！〃
〃She was God's messengerto buffet her； and make her know her need
of him。 Be sure； Miss Graeme； not a soul can do without him。〃
Here Mr。 Graeme joined them。
〃I do not think the earl will last many days；〃 said Donal。 〃It would
be well； it seems to me； at once upon his death to take possession
of the house in the town。 It is the only property that goes with the
title。 And of course you would at once take up your abode in the
castle！ You will find in the earl's papers many proofs； I imagine；
that his son has no claim。 I would have a deed of gift drawn up； but
would rather you seemed to come in by natural succession。 We are not
bound to tell the world everything； we are only bound to be able
without shame to tell it everything。 And then I shall have a favour
to ask： Morven House； down in the town； is of no great use to you：
let me rent it of you。 I should like to live there and have a
school； with Davie for my first pupil。 When we get another； we will
try to make a man of him too。 We will not care so much about making
a great scholar； or a great anything of him； but a true man。 We will
try to help the whole man of him into the likeness of the one man。〃
Here Mr。 Graeme broke in。
〃You will never make a living that way！〃 he said。
Donal opened his eyes and looked at him。 Like one convicted and
ashamed； the eyes of the man of business fell before those of the
man of God。
〃Ah；〃 said Donal； 〃you have not an idea； Mr。 Graeme； on how little I
could live！Here； you had better take the will；〃 he added； pulling
it from his pocket。
Mr。 Graeme hesitated。
〃If you would rather not； I will keep it。 I would throw it in the
fire； but either you or I must keep it for a time as against all
chances。〃
Mr。 Graeme took it。
That night the earl died。
Donal wrote to Percy that his father was dead。 Two days after； he
appeared。 The new earl met him in the hall。
〃Mr。 Graeme；〃 said Percy；
〃I am lord Morven； Mr。 Graeme；〃 returned his lordship。
The fellow said an evil word； turned on his heel； and left them to
bury his father without him。
The funeral over； the earl turned to Donal and looked him in the
face： they walked back to the castle arm in arm； and from that
moment were as brothers。
Earl Hector did nothing of importance without consulting Donal； and
Donal had the more influence both with landlord and tenants that he
had no interest in the property。
The same week he left the castle； and took possession of Morven
House。 The people said Mr。 Grant had played his cards well： had they
known what he had really done； they would have called him a born
idiot。
Davie； to whom no calamity could be overwhelming so long as he had
Mr。 Grant； accompanied him gladly； more than content to live with
him till he went to college； whither the earl wished to send him。
Donal hindered rather than sped the day。 When it came； the earl
would have had him go too； but Donal would not。
〃I have done what I can；〃 he said。 〃It is time he should walk
alone。〃
It was soon evident that the boy would not disgrace him。 There is no
certainty as to how deep any teaching may have goneas to whether
it has reached the issues of life or not； until a youth is left by
himself； and has to choose and refuse companions： the most promising
youths are often but promisers。
With the full concurrence of Miss Graeme； Donal had persuaded
mistress Brookeseasy persuasion where the suggestion was
enough！to keep house for him。 They went together； and together
unlocked the door of Morven House。
Mistress Brookes said the place was in an awful state。 There was not
much； to be sure； for the mason to do； but for the carpenter！ It had
not been touched for generations！ He must go away； and stay away
till she summoned him！
Donal gladly went home to his hills； and took Davie with him。 He
told his father and mother； sir Gibbie and his lady； the things that
had befallen him； and every one approved heartily of what he had
done。 His mother took his renunciation of the property as a matter
of course。 All agreed it should not be spoken of。 When they returned
to Auchars； sir Gibbie and lady Galbraith went with them； and staid
for some weeks。 The townsfolk said he was but a poor baronet that
could not speak mortal word。
Lord Morven and Miss Graeme had done their best to make the house
what they thought Donal would like。 But in the castle they kept for
him the rooms lady Arctura had called her own。 There he gathered the
books； and a few other of the more immediately personal possessions
of his wifeher piano for oneupon which he taught himself to play
a little； and thither he betook himself often on holidays； and
always on Sunday evenings。 What went on then I leave to the
imagination of the reader who knows that alone one may meet many；
sitting still may travel far； and silent make the universe hear。
Lord Morven kept Larkie for Davie。 The last I heard of Davie was
that he was in India； an officer in the army； beloved of his men；
and exercising a most beneficial influence on his regiment。 The
things he had learned he had so learned that they went out from him；
finding new ground in which to root and grow。 In his day and
generation he helped the coming of the kingdom of truth and
righteousness； and so fulfilled his high calling。
It was some time before Donal had any pupils； and he never had many；
for he was regarded as a most peculiar man； with ideas about
education odd in the extreme。 It was granted； however； that； if a
boy stayed； or rather if he allowed him to stay with him long
enough； he was sure to turn out a gentleman： that which was deeper
and was the life of the gentleman； people seldom sawwould seldom
have valued if they had seen。 Most parents would like their children
to be ladies and gentlemen； that they should be sons and daughters
of God； they do not care！
The few wise souls in the neighbourhood know Donal as the heart of
the placethe man to go to in any difficulty； in any trouble or
apprehension。
Miss Carmichael grew by degrees less talkative； and less obtrusive
of her opinions。 After some years she condescended to marry a farmer
on lord Morven's estate。 Their only child； a thoughtful boy； and a
true reader； sought the company of the grave man with the sweet
smile； going often to his house to ask him about this or that。 He
reminded him of Davie； and grew very dear to him。 The mother
discovering that； as often as he stole away； it was to go to the
mastereverybody called him the maisterscolded and forbade。 But
the prohibition brought such a time of tears and gloom and loss of
appetite； and her husband so little shared her prejudices against
the master； that she was compelled to recall it； and the boy went
and went as before。 When he was taken ill； and on his deathbed；
nobody could make him happy but the master； he almost nursed him
through the last few days of his short earthly life。 But the mother
seemed not to like him any the betterrather to regard him as
having deprived her of some of her rights in the love of her boy。
Donal is still a present power of heat and light in the town of
Auchars。 He wears the same solemn look； the same hovering smile。
They say to those who can read them； 〃I know in whom I have
believed。〃 It is the God who is the Father of the Lord that he
believes in。 His life is hid with Christ in God； and he has no
anxiety about anything。 The wheels of the coming chariot； moving
fast or slow to fetch him； are always moving； and whether it arrive
at night； or at cock…crowing； or in the blaze of noon； is one to
him。 He is ready for the life his Arctura knows。 〃God is；〃 he says；
〃and all is well。〃 He never disputes； rarely seeks to convince。 〃I
will let what light I have shine； but disputation is smoke。 It is to
no profit！And I do like；〃 he says； 〃to give and to get the good of
things！〃
THE END