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of the old pertness； mingled with uneasiness。 The phenomenon；
however； was so intermittent and unpronounced； as to be manifest
only to eyes familiar with her looks and ways： to Donal it was clear
that the relation between her and Forgue was resumed。 Yet she never
went out in the evening except sent by her grandmother； and then she
always came home even with hasteanxious； it might have seemed； to
avoid suspicion。
It was the custom with Donal and Davie to go often into the fields
and woods in the fine weatherthey called this their observation
classto learn what they might of the multitudinous goings on in
this or that of Nature's workshops： there each for himself and the
other exercised his individual powers of seeing and noting and
putting together。 Donal knew little of woodland matters； having been
chiefly accustomed to meadows and bare hill…sides； yet in the woods
he was the keener of the two to observe； and could the better teach
that he was but a better learner。
One day； as they were walking together under the thin shade of a
fir…thicket； Davie said； with a sudden change of subject
〃I wonder if we shall meet Forgue to…day！ he gets up early now； and
goes out。 It is neither to fish nor shoot； for he doesn't take his
rod or gun； he must be watching or looking for something！Shouldn't
you say so； Mr。 Grant？〃
This set Donal thinking。 Eppy was never out at night； or only for a
few minutes； and Forgue went out early in the morning！ But if Eppy
would meet him； how could he or anyone help it？
CHAPTER XLV。
A LAST ENCOUNTER。
Now for a while； Donal seldom saw lady Arctura； and when he did；
received from her no encouragement to address her。 The troubled look
had reappeared on her face。 In her smile； as they passed in hall or
corridor； glimmered an expression almost patheticsomething like an
appeal； as if she stood in sore need of his help； but dared not ask
for it。 She was again much in the company of Miss Carmichael； and
Donal had good cause to fear that the pharisaism of her would…be
directress was coming down upon her spirit； not like rain on the
mown grass； but like frost on the spring flowers。 The impossibility
of piercing the Christian pharisee holding the traditions of the
elders； in any vital partso pachydermatous is he to any spiritual
argumentis a sore trial to the old Adam still unslain in lovers of
the truth。 At the same time nothing gives patience better
opportunity for her perfect work。 And it is well they cannot be
reached by argument and so persuaded； they would but enter the
circles of the faithful to work fresh schisms and breed fresh
imposthumes。
But Donal had begun to think that he had been too forbearing towards
the hideous doctrines advocated by Miss Carmichael。 It is one thing
where evil doctrines are quietly held； and the truth associated with
them assimilated by good people doing their best with what has been
taught them； and quite another thing where they are forced upon some
shrinking nature； weak to resist through the very reverence which is
its excellence。 The finer nature； from inability to think another of
less pure intent than itself； is often at a great disadvantage in
the hands of the coarser。 He made up his mind that； risk as it was
to enter into disputations with a worshipper of the letter； inasmuch
as for argument the letter is immeasurably more available than the
spiritfor while the spirit lies in the letter unperceived； it has
no force； and the letter…worshipper is incapable of seeing that God
could not possibly mean what he makes of itnotwithstanding the
risk； he resolved to hold himself ready； and if anything was given
him； to cry it out and not spare。 Nor had he long resolved ere the
opportunity came。
It had come to be known that Donal frequented the old avenue； and it
was with intent； in the pride of her acquaintance with scripture；
and her power to use it； that Miss Carmichael one afternoon led her
unwilling； rather recusant； and very unhappy disciple thither： she
sought an encounter with him： his insolence towards the
old…established faith must be confounded； his obnoxious influence on
Arctura frustrated！ It was a bright autumnal day。 The trees were
sorely bereaved； but some foliage yet hung in thin yellow clouds
upon their patient boughs。 There was plenty of what Davie called
scushlin； that is the noise of walking with scarce lifted feet
amongst the thick…lying withered leaves。 But less foliage means more
sunlight。
Donal was sauntering along； his book in his hand； now and then
reading a little； now and then looking up to the half…bared
branches； now and then； like Davie； sweeping a cloud of the fallen
multitude before him。 He was in this childish act when； looking up；
he saw the two ladies approaching； he did not see the peculiar
glance Miss Carmichael threw her companion： 〃Behold your prophet！〃
it said。 He would have passed with lifted bonnet； but Miss
Carmichael stopped； smiling： her smile was bright because it showed
her good teeth； but was not pleasant because it showed nothing else。
〃Glorying over the fallen； Mr。 Grant？〃 she said。
Donal in his turn smiled。
〃That is not Mr。 Grant's way；〃 said Arctura； 〃so far at least as I
have known him！〃
〃How careless the trees are of their poor children！〃 said Miss
Carmichael； affecting sympathy for the leaves。
〃Pardon me；〃 said Donal； 〃if I grudge them your pity： there is
nothing more of children in those leaves than there is in the hair
that falls on the barber's floor。〃
〃It is not very gracious to pull a lady up so sharply！〃 returned
Miss Carmichael； still smiling： 〃I spoke poetically。〃
〃There is no poetry in what is not true；〃 rejoined Donal。 〃Those are
not the children of the tree。〃
〃Of course；〃 said Miss Carmichael； a little surprised to find their
foils crossed already； 〃a tree has no children！ but〃
〃A tree no children！〃 exclaimed Donal。 〃What then are all those
beech…nuts under the leaves？ Are they not the children of the tree？〃
〃Yes； and lost like the leaves！〃 sighed Miss Carmichael。
〃Why do you say they are lost？ They must fulfil the end for which
they were made； and if so； they cannot be lost。〃
〃For what end were they made？〃
〃I do not know。 If they all grew up； they would be a good deal in
the way。〃
〃Then you say there are more seeds than are required？〃
〃How could I； when I do not know what they are required for？ How can
I tell that it is not necessary for the life of the tree that it
should produce them all； and necessary too for the ground to receive
so much life…rent from the tree！〃
〃But you must admit that some things are lost！〃
〃Yes； surely！〃 answered Donal。 〃Why else should he come and look
till he find？〃
No such answer had the theologian expected； she was not immediate
with her rejoinder。
〃But some of them are lost after all！〃 she said。
〃Doubtless； there are sheep that will keep running away。 But he goes
after them again。〃
〃He will not do that for ever！〃
〃He will。〃
〃I do not believe it。〃
〃Then you do not believe that God is infinite！〃
〃I do。〃
〃How can you？ Is he not the Lord God merciful and gracious？〃
〃I am glad you know that。〃
〃But if his mercy and his graciousness are not infinite； then he is
not infinite！〃
〃There are other attributes in which he is infinite。〃
〃But he is not infinite in all his attributes？ He is partly
infinite； and partly finite！infinite in knowledge and power； but
in love； in forgiveness； in all those things which are the most
beautiful； the most divine； the most Christ…like； he is finite；
measurable； bounded； small！〃
〃I care nothing for such finite reasoning。 I take the word of
inspiration； and go by that！〃
〃Let me hear then；〃 said Donal； with an uplifting of his heart in
prayer； for it seemed no light thing for Arctura which of them
should show the better reason。
Now it had so fallen that the ladies were talking about the doctrine
called Adoption when first they saw Donal； whence this doctrine was
the first to occur to the champion of orthodoxy as a weapon
wherewith to foil the enemy。
〃The most precious doctrine； if one may say so； in the whole Bible；
is that of Adoption。 God by the mouth of his apostle Paul tells us
that God adopts some for his children； and leaves the rest。 If
because of this you say he is not infinite in mercy； when the Bible
says he is； you are guilty of blasphemy。〃
In a tone calm to solemnity； Donal answered
〃God's mercy is infinite； and the doctrine of Adoption is one of the
falsest of false doctrines。 In bitter lack of the spirit whereby we
cry Abba； Father； the so…called Church invented it； and it remains；
a hideous mask wherewith false and ignorant teachers scare God's
children from their Father's arms。〃
〃I hate sentimentmost of all in religion！〃 said Miss Carmichael
with contempt。
〃You shall have none；〃 returned Donal。 〃Tell me what is meant by
Adoption。〃
〃The taking of children；〃 answered Miss Carmichael； already spying a
rock ahead； 〃and treating them as your own。〃
〃Whose children？〃 asked Donal。
〃Anyone's。〃
〃Whose；〃 insisted Donal； 〃are the children whom God adopts？〃
She was on the rock； and a little staggered。 But she pulled