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before him； and say； 〃Father； I have sinned against heaven and
thee；〃 for that heaven had taken him up out of his sight。 He could
only weep instead； and bitterly repent。 Yes； there was one thing
more he could do。 Janet still lived。 He would go to her； and
confess his sin； and beg her forgiveness。 Receiving it； he would be
at peace。 He knew David forgave him； whether he confessed or not；
and that； if he were alive； David would seek his confession only as
the casting away of the separation from his heart； as the banishment
of the worldly spirit； and as the natural sign by which he might
know that Hugh was one with him yet。
Janet was David's representative on earth： he would go to her。
So he returned； rich and great； rich in knowing that he was the
child of Him to whom all the gold mines belong； and great in that
humility which alone recognizes greatness； and in the beginnings of
that meekness which shall inherit the earth。 No more would he stunt
his spiritual growth by self…satisfaction。 No more would he lay
aside； in the cellars of his mind； poor withered bulbs of opinions；
which； but for the evil ministrations of that self…satisfaction；
seeking to preserve them by drying and salting； might have been
already bursting into blossoms of truth； of infinite loveliness。
He knew that Margaret thought far too well of himhonoured him
greatly beyond his deserts。 He would not allow her to be any longer
thus deceived。 He would tell her what a poor creature he was。 But
he would say； too； that he hoped one day to be worthy of her praise；
that he hoped to grow to what she thought him。 If he should fail in
convincing her； he would receive all the honour she gave him humbly；
as paid； not to him； but to what he ought to be。 God grant it might
be as to his future self！
In this mood he went to Janet。
CHAPTER XXIV。
THE FIR…WOOD AGAIN。
Er stand vor der himmlischen Jungfrau。 Da hob er den leichten；
gl鋘zenden Schleir； undRosenbl黷hchen sank in seine
Arme。Novalis。Die Lehrlinge zu Sais。
He stood before the heavenly Virgin （Isis； the Goddess of Nature）。
Then lifted he the light； shining veil； andRosebud （his old love）
sank into his arms。
So womanly； so benigne； and so meek。
CHAUCER。Prol。 to Leg。 of Good Women。
It was with a mingling of strange emotions； that Hugh approached the
scene of those not very old； and yet； to his feeling； quite early
memories。 The dusk was beginning to gather。 The hoar…frost lay
thick on the ground。 The pine…trees stood up in the cold； looking；
in their garment of spikes； as if the frost had made them。 The rime
on the gate was unfriendly； and chilled his hand。 He turned into
the footpath。 He say the room David had built for him。 Its thatch
was one mass of mosses； whose colours were hidden now in the
cuckoo…fruit of the frost。 Alas！ how Death had cast his deeper
frost over all； for the man was gone from the hearth！ But neither
old Winter nor skeleton Death can withhold the feet of the little
child Spring。 She is stronger than both。 Love shall conquer hate；
and God will overcome sin。
He drew night to the door； trembling。 It seemed strange to him that
his nerves only； and not his mind； should feel。In moments of
unusual excitement； it sometimes happens that the only consciousness
a strong man has of emotion； lies in an unwonted physical vibration；
the mind itself refusing to be disturbed。 It is； however； but a
seeming： the emotion is so deep； that consciousness can lay hold of
its physical result only。The cottage looked the same as ever； only
the peat…stack outside was smaller。 In the shadowiness of the firs；
the glimmer of a fire was just discernible on the kitchen window。
He trembled so much that he could not enter。 He would go into the
fir…wood first； and see Margaret's tree； as he always called it in
his thoughts and dreams。
Very poor and stunted and meagre looked the fir…trees of
Turriepuffit； after the beeches and elms of Arnstead。 The evening
wind whistled keen and cold through their dry needles； and made them
moan； as if because they were fettered； and must endure the winter
in helpless patience。 Here and there amongst them； rose the Titans
of the little forestthe huge； old； contorted； wizard…like； yet
benevolent beingsthe Scotch firs。 Towards one of these he bent
his way。 It was the one under which he had seen Margaret； when he
met her first in the wood； with her whole soul lost in the waving of
its wind…swung； sun…lighted top； floating about in the sea of air
like a golden nest for some silvery bird of heaven。 To think that
the young girl to whom he had given the primrose he had just found；
the then first…born of the Spring； should now be the queen of his
heart！ Her childish dream of the angel haunting the wood had been
true； only she was the angel herself。 He drew near the place。 How
well he knew it！ He seated himself； cold as it was in the February
of Scotland； at the foot of the blessed tree。 He did not know that
it was cold。
While he sat with his eyes fixed on the ground； a light rustle in
the fallen leaves made him raise them suddenly。 It was all winter
and fallen leaves about him； but he lifted his eyes； and in his soul
it was summer： Margaret stood before him。 He was not in the least
surprised。 For how can one wonder to see before his eyes； the form
of which his soul is full？there is no shock。 She stood a little
way off； lookingas if she wanted to be sure before she moved a
step。 She was dressed in a grey winsey gown； close to her throat
and wrists。 She had neither shawl nor bonnet。 Her fine health kept
her warm； even in a winter wood at sun…down。 She looked just the
same；at home everywhere； most at home in Nature's secret chamber。
Like the genius of the place； she made the winter…wood look homely。
What were the oaks and beeches of Arnstead now？ Homeliness and
glory are Heaven。
She came nearer。
〃Margaret！〃 he murmured； and would have risen。
〃No； no； sit still；〃 she rejoined； in a pleading tone。 〃I thought it
was the angel in the picture。 Now I know it。 Sit still； dear Mr。
Sutherland； one moment more。〃
Humbled by his sense of unworthiness； and a little distressed that
she could so quietly reveal the depth of her feeling towards him； he
said：
〃Ah； Margaret！ I wish you would not praise one so little deserving
it。〃
〃Praise？〃 she repeated； with an accent of wonder。 〃I praise you！
No； Mr。 Sutherland； that I am not guilty of。 Next to my father；
you made me know and feel。 And as I walked here； I was thinking of
the old times； and older times still； and all at once I saw the very
picture out of the old Bible。〃
She came close to him now。 He rose； trembling； but held out no
hand； uttered no greeting。
〃Margaret； dare I love you？〃 he faltered。
She looked at him with wide…open eyes。
〃Me？〃 she said； and her eyes did not move from his。 A slight
rose…flush bloomed out on her motionless face。
〃Will you be my wife？〃 he said； trembling yet more。
She made no answer； but looked at him still； with parted lips；
motionless。
〃I am very poor； Margaret。 I could not marry now。〃
It was a stupid speech； but he ma