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heartily； although not thoroughlythe element of Christian
Pantheism； which is their soul； being beyond his comprehension；
almost perception； as yet。 So he made up his mind； after a moment's
reflection； that this should be the next author he recommended to
his pupil。 He hoped likewise so to end an interview； in which he
might otherwise be compelled to confess that he could render
Margaret no assistance in her search after the something in the
wood； and he was unwilling to say he could not understand her； for a
power of universal sympathy was one of those mental gifts which Hugh
was most anxious to believe he possessed。
〃I will bring you another book to…night；〃 said he 〃which I think you
will like； and which may perhaps help you to find out what is in the
wood。〃
He said this smiling； half in playful jest； and without any idea of
the degree of likelihood that there was notwithstanding in what he
said。 For； certainly； Wordsworth； the high…priest of nature； though
perhaps hardly the apostle of nature； was more likely than any other
writer to contain something of the secret after which Margaret was
searching。 Whether she can find it there； may seem questionable。
〃Thank you； sir；〃 said Margaret； gratefully； but her whole
countenance looked troubled； as she turned towards her home。
Doubtless； however； the trouble vanished before she reached it； for
hers was not a nature to cherish disquietude。 Hugh too went home；
rather thoughtful。
In the evening； he took a volume of Wordsworth； and repaired；
according to his wont； to David's cottage。 It was Saturday； and he
would stay to supper。 After they had given the usual time to their
studies； Hugh； setting Margaret some exercises in English to write
on her slate； while he helped David with some of the elements of
Trigonometry； and again going over those elements with her； while
David worked out a calculationafter these were over； and while
Janet was putting the supper on the table； Hugh pulled out his
volume； and； without any preface； read them the Leech…Gatherer。 All
listened very intently； Janet included； who delayed several of the
operations； that she might lose no word of the verses； David nodding
assent every now and then； and ejaculating ay！ ay！ or eh； man！ or
producing that strange muffled sound at once common and peculiar to
Scotchmen； which cannot be expressed in letters by a nearer approach
than hmhm； uttered； if that can be called uttering； with closed
lips and open nasal passage； and Margaret sitting motionless on her
creepie； with upturned pale face； and eyes fixed upon the lips of
the reader。 When he had ceased； all were silent for a moment； when
Janet made some little sign of anxiety about her supper； which
certainly had suffered by the delay。 Then； without a word； David
turned towards the table and gave thanks。 Turning again to Hugh；
who had risen to place his chair； he said；
〃That maun be the wark o' a great poet； Mr。 Sutherlan'。〃
〃It's Wordsworth's；〃 said Hugh。
〃Ay！ ay！ That's Wordsworth's！ Ay！ Weel； I hae jist heard him made
mention o'； but I never read word o' his afore。 An' he never
repentit o' that same resolution； I'se warrant； 'at he eynds aff
wi'。 Hoo does it gang； Mr。 Sutherlan'？〃
Sutherland read：
〃'God；' said I； 'be my help and stay secure！
I'll think of the leech…gatherer on the lonely moor；'〃
and added； 〃It is said Wordsworth never knew what it was to be in
want of money all his life。〃
〃Nae doubt； nae doubt： he trusted in Him。〃
It was for the sake of the minute notices of nature； and not for the
religious lesson； which he now seemed to see for the first time；
that Hugh had read the poem。 He could not help being greatly
impressed by the confidence with which David received the statement
he had just made on the authority of De Quincey in his unpleasant
article about Wordsworth。 David resumed：
〃He maun hae had a gleg 'ee o' his ain； that Maister Wordsworth； to
notice a'thing that get。 Weel he maun hae likit leevin' things；
puir maukin an' a'jist like our Robbie Burns for that。 An' see
hoo they a' ken ane anither； thae poets。 What says he aboot
Burns？ye needna tell me； Mr。 Sutherlan'； I min't weel aneuch。 He
says：
'Him wha walked in glory an' in joy；
Followin' his ploo upo' the muntain…side。'
Puir Robbie！ puir Robbie！ But； man； he was a gran' chield efter a'；
an' I trust in God he's won hame by this！〃
Both Janet and Hugh； who had had a very orthodox education； started；
mentally； at this strange utterance； but they saw the eye of David
solemnly fixed； as if in deep contemplation； and lighted in its blue
depths with an ethereal brightness； and neither of them ventured to
speak。 Margaret seemed absorbed for the moment in gazing on her
father's face； but not in the least as if it perplexed her like the
fir…wood。 To the seeing eye； the same kind of expression would have
been evident in both countenances； as if Margaret's reflected the
meaning of her father's； whether through the medium of intellectual
sympathy； or that of the heart only； it would have been hard to say。
Meantime supper had been rather neglected； but its operations were
now resumed more earnestly； and the conversation became lighter；
till at last it ended in hearty laughter； and Hugh rose and took his
leave。
CHAPTER VIII。
A SUNDAY MORNING。
It is the property of good and sound knowledge； to putrifie and
dissolve into a number of subtle； idle； unwholesome； and （as I may
tearme them） vermiculate questions； which have indeed a kinde of
quicknesse； and life of spirite； but no soundnesse of matter； or
goodnesse of quality。LORD BACON。Advancement of Learning。
The following morning； the laird's family went to church as usual；
and Hugh went with them。 Their walk was first across fields； by
pleasant footpaths； and then up the valley of a little noisy stream；
that obstinately refused to keep Scotch Sabbath； praising the Lord
after its own fashion。 They emerged into rather a bleak country
before reaching the church； which was quite new； and perched on a
barren eminence； that it might be as conspicuous by its position； as
it was remarkable for its ugliness。 One grand aim of the reformers
of the Scottish ecclesiastical modes； appears to have been to keep
the worship pure and the worshippers sincere； by embodying the whole
in the ugliest forms that could be associated with the name of
Christianity。 It might be wished； however； that some of their
followers； and amongst them the clergyman of the church in question；
had been content to stop there； and had left the object of worship；
as represented by them； in the possession of some lovable attribute；
so as not to require a man to love that which is unlovable； or
worship that which is not honourablein a word； to bow down before
that which is not divine。 The cause of this degeneracy they share
in common with the followers of all other great men as well as of
Calvin。 They take up what their leader； urged by the necessity of
the time； spoke loudest； never heeding what he loved most； and then
work the former out to a logical perdition of everything belonging
to the latter。