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〃Certainly；〃 he answered； reseating himself； in compliance with her
example。
〃Miss Graeme told me that you had never seen a garden like theirs
before！〃
〃I never did。 There are none such； I fancy； in our part of the
country。〃
〃Nor in our neighbourhood either。〃
〃Then what is surprising in it？〃
〃Nothing in that。 But is there not something in your being able to
write a poem like that about a garden such as you had never seen？
One would say you must have been familiar with it from childhood to
be able so to enter into the spirit of the place！〃
〃Perhaps if I had been familiar with it from childhood； that might
have disabled me from feeling the spirit of it； for then might it
not have looked to me as it looked to those in whose time such
gardens were the fashion？ Two things are necessaryfirst； that
there should be a spirit in a place； and next that the place should
be seen by one whose spirit is capable of giving house…room to its
spirit。By the way； does the ghost…lady feel the place all right？〃
〃I am not sure that I know what you mean； but I felt the grass with
her feet as I read； and the wind lifting my hair。 I seemed to know
exactly how she felt！〃
〃Now tell me； were you ever a ghost？〃
〃No；〃 she answered； looking in his face like a childwithout even a
smile。
〃Did you ever see a ghost？〃
〃No； never。〃
〃Then how should you know how a ghost would feel？〃
〃I see！ I cannot answer you。〃
Donal rose。
〃I am indeed ashamed！〃 said lady Arctura。
〃Ashamed of giving me the chance of proving myself a true man？〃
〃That； at least； is no longer necessary！〃
〃But I want my revenge。 As a punishment for doubting one whom you
had so little ground for believing； you shall be compelled to see
the proofthat is； if you will do me the favour to wait here till I
come back。 I shall not be long； though it is some distance to the
top of Baliol's tower。〃
〃Davie told me your room was there： do you not find it cold？ It must
be very lonely！ I wonder why mistress Brookes put you there！〃
Donal assured her he could not have had a place more to his mind；
and before she could well think he had reached the foot of his
stair； was back with a roll of papers； which he laid on the table。
〃There！〃 he said； opening it out； 〃if you will take the trouble to
go over these； you may read the growth of the poem。 Here first you
see it blocked out rather roughly； and much blotted with erasures
and substitutions。 Here next you see the result copiedclean to
begin with； but afterwards scored and scored。 You see the words I
chose instead of the first； and afterwards in their turn rejected；
until in the proofs I reached those which I have as yet let stand。 I
do not fancy Miss Graeme has any doubt the verses are mine； for it
was plain she thought them rubbish。 From your pains to know who
wrote them； I believe you do not think so badly of them！〃
She thought he was satirical； and gave a slight sigh as of pain。 It
went to his heart。
〃I did not mean the smallest reflection； my lady； on your desire for
satisfaction；〃 he said； 〃rather； indeed； it flatters me。 But is it
not strange the heart should be less ready to believe what seems
worth believing？ Something must be true： why not the worthyoftener
at least than the unworthy？ Why should it be easier to believe hard
things of God； for instance； than lovely things？or that one man
copied from another； than that he should have made the thing
himself？ Some would yet say I contrived all this semblance of
composition in order to lay the surer claim to that to which I had
nonenor would take the trouble to follow the thing through its
development！ But it will be easy for you； my lady； and no bad
exercise in logic and analysis； to determine whether the genuine
growth of the poem be before you in these papers or not。〃
〃I shall find it most interesting；〃 said lady Arctura： 〃so much I
can tell already！ I never saw anything of the kind before； and had
no idea how poetry was made。 Does it always take so much labour？〃
〃Some verses take much more； some none at all。 The labour is in
getting the husks of expression cleared off； so that the thought may
show itself plainly。〃
At this point Mrs。 Brookes； thinking probably the young people had
had long enough conference； entered； and after a little talk with
her； lady Arctura kissed her and bade her good night。 Donal retired
to his aerial chamber； wondering whether the lady of the house had
indeed changed as much as she seemed to have changed。
》From that time； whether it was that lady Arctura had previously
avoided meeting him and now did not； or from other causes； Donal and
she met much oftener as they went about the place； nor did they ever
pass without a mutual smile and greeting。
The next day but one； she brought him his papers to the schoolroom。
She had read every erasure and correction； she told him； and could
no longer have had a doubt that the writer of the papers was the
maker of the verses； even had she not previously learned thorough
confidence in the man himself。
〃They would possibly fail to convince a jury though！〃 he said； as he
rose and went to throw them in the fire。
Divining his intent； Arctura darted after him； and caught them just
in time。
〃Let me keep them；〃 she pleaded； 〃for my humiliation！〃
〃Do with them what you like； my lady；〃 said Donal。 〃They are of no
value to meexcept that you care for them。〃
CHAPTER XXXIV。
COBBLER AND CASTLE。
In the bosom of the family in which the elements seem most kindly
mixed； there may yet lie some root of discord and disruption； upon
which the foreign influence necessary to its appearance above
ground； has not yet come to operate。 That things are quiet is no
proof； only a hopeful sign of harmony。 In a family of such poor
accord as that at the castle； the peace might well at any moment be
broken。
Lord Forgue had been for some time on a visit to Edinburgh； had
doubtless there been made much of； and had returned with a
considerable development of haughtiness； and of that freedom which
means subjugation to self； and freedom from the law of liberty。 It
is often when a man is least satisfiednot with himself but with
his immediate doingsthat he is most ready to assert his
superiority to the restraints he might formerly have grumbled
against； but had not dared to disputeand to claim from others such
consideration as accords with a false idea of his personal standing。
But for a while Donal and he barely saw each other； Donal had no
occasion to regard him； and lord Forgue kept so much to himself that
Davie made lamentation： Percy was not half so jolly as he used to
be！
For a fortnight Eppy had not been to see her grand…parents； and as
the last week something had prevented Donal also from paying them
his customary visit； the old people had naturally become uneasy； and
one frosty twilight； when the last of the sunlight had turned to
cold green in the west； Andrew Comin appeared in the castle kitchen；
asking to see mistress Brookes。 He was kindly received by the
servants； among whom Eppy was not present； and Mrs。 Brookes； who had
a genuine respect for the cobbler； soon came to greet him。 She told
him she knew no reason why Eppy had not gone to inquire after them
as usual： she would send for her； she said； and left the kitchen。
Eppy was not at the moment to be found； but Donal； whom mistress
Brookes had gone herself to seek； went at once to the kitchen。
〃Will you come out a bit； Andrew；〃 he said； 〃if you're not tired？
It's a fine night； and it's easy to talk in the gloamin'！〃
Andrew consented with alacrity。
On the side of the castle away from the town； the descent was at
first by a succession of terraces with steps from the one to the
other； the terraces themselves being little flower…gardens。 At the
bottom of the last of these terraces and parallel with them； was a
double row of trees； forming a long narrow avenue between two little
doors in two walls at opposite ends of the castle。 One of these led
to some of the offices； the other admitted to a fruit garden which
turned the western shoulder of the hill； and found for the greater
part a nearly southern exposure。 At this time of the year it was a
lonely enough place； and at this time of the day more than likely to
be altogether deserted： thither Donal would lead his friend。 Going
out therefore by the kitchen…door； they went first into a
stable…yard； from which descended steps to the castle…well； on the
level of the second terrace。 Thence they arrived； by more steps； at
the mews where in old times the hawks were kept； now rather ruinous
though not quite neglected。 Here the one wall…door opened on the
avenue which led to the other。 It was one of the pleasantest walks
in immediate proximity to the castle。
The first of the steely stars were shining through the naked rafters
of leafless boughs overhead； as Donal and the cobbler stepped；
gently talking； into the aisle of trees。 The old man looked up；
gazed for a moment in silence； and said：
〃'The heavens declare the glory o' God； an' the firmament showeth
his handy…work。' I used； whan I was a lad； to study astronomy a wee；
i' the houp o' better hearin' what th