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unobserved； and he had aroused yet more the wrath of the youths； by
threatening soon to rival them in the excellencies to which they had
an especial claim。 They had regarded him as an interloper； who had
no right to captivate one of their rank by arts beyond their reach；
but it was still less pardonable to dare them to a trial of skill
with their own weapons。 To the fire of this jealousy； the
admiration of the laird added fuel； for he was delighted with the
spirit with which Hugh laid himself to the scythe。 But all the
time； nothing was further from Hugh's thoughts than the idea of
rivalry with them。 Whatever he might have thought of Margaret in
relation to himself； he never thought of her； though labouring in
the same field with them； as in the least degree belonging to their
class； or standing in any possible relation to them； except that of
a common work。
In ordinary； the labourers would have had sufficient respect for
Sutherland's superior position； to prevent them from giving such
decided and articulate utterance to their feelings。 But they were
incited by the presence and example of a man of doubtful character
from the neighbouring village； a travelled and clever ne'er…do…weel；
whose reputation for wit was equalled by his reputation for courage
and skill； as well as profligacy。 Roused by the effervescence of
his genius； they went on from one thing to another； till Hugh saw it
must be put a stop to somehow； else he must abandon the field。 They
dared not have gone so far if David had been present； but he had
been called away to superintend some operations in another part of
the estate； and they paid no heed to the expostulations of some of
the other older men。 At the close of the day's work； therefore；
Hugh walked up to this fellow； and said：
〃I hope you will be satisfied with insulting me all to…day； and
leave it alone to…morrow。〃
The man replied； with an oath and a gesture of rude contempt；
〃I dinna care the black afore my nails for ony skelp…doup o' the lot
o' ye。〃
Hugh's highland blood flew to his brain； and before the rascal
finished his speech； he had measured his length on the stubble。 He
sprang to his feet in a fury； threw off the coat which he had just
put on； and darted at Hugh； who had by this time recovered his
coolness； and was besides； notwithstanding his unusual exertions；
the more agile of the two。 The other was heavier and more powerful。
Hugh sprang aside； as he would have done from the rush of a bull；
and again with a quick blow felled his antagonist。 Beginning rather
to enjoy punishing him； he now went in for it； and； before the other
would yield； he had rendered his next day's labour somewhat
doubtful。 He withdrew； with no more injury to himself than a little
water would remove。 Janet and Margaret had left the field before he
addressed the man。
He went borne and to bedmore weary than he had ever been in his
life。 Before he went to sleep； however； he made up his mind to say
nothing of his encounter to David； but to leave him to hear of it
from other sources。 He could not help feeling a little anxious as
to his judgment upon it。 That the laird would approve； he hardly
doubted； but for his opinion he cared very little。
〃Dawvid； I wonner at ye；〃 said Janet to her husband； the moment he
came home； 〃to lat the young lad warstle himsel' deid that get wi' a
scythe。 His banes is but saft yet； There wasna a dry steek on him
or he wan half the lenth o' the first bout。 He's sair disjaskit；
I'se warran'。〃
〃Nae fear o' him； Janet； it'll do him guid。 Mr。 Sutherland's no
feckless winlestrae o' a creater。 Did he haud his ain at a' wi' the
lave？〃
〃Haud his ain！ Gin he be fit for onything the day； he maun be
pitten neist yersel'； or he'll cut the legs aff o' ony ither man i'
the corn。〃
A glow of pleasure mantled in Margaret's face at her mother's praise
of Hugh。 Janet went on：
〃But I was jist clean affronted wi' the way 'at the young chields
behaved themselves till him。〃
〃I thocht I heard a toot…moot o' that kin' afore I left； but I
thocht it better to tak' nae notice o't。 I'll be wi' ye a' day the
morn though； an' I'm thinkin' I'll clap a rouch han' on their mou's
'at I hear ony mair o't frae。〃
But there was no occasion for interference on David's part。 Hugh
made his appearancenot； it is true； with the earliest in the
hairst…rig； but after breakfast with the laird； who was delighted
with the way in which he had handled his scythe the day before； and
felt twice the respect for him in consequence。 It must be confessed
he felt very stiff； but the best treatment for stiffness being the
hom渙pathic one of more work； he had soon restored the elasticity of
his muscles； and lubricated his aching joints。 His antagonist of
the foregoing evening was nowhere to be seen； and the rest of the
young men were shame…faced and respectful enough。
David； having learned from some of the spectators the facts of the
combat； suddenly； as they were walking home together； held out his
hand to Hugh； shook his hard； and said：
〃Mr。 Sutherlan'； I'm sair obleeged to ye for giein' that vratch；
Jamie Ogg； a guid doonsettin'。 He's a coorse crater； but the warst
maun hae meat； an' sae I didna like to refeese him when he cam for
wark。 But its a greater kin'ness to clout him nor to cleed him。
They say ye made an awfu' munsie o' him。 But it's to be houpit
he'll live to thank ye。 There's some fowk 'at can respeck no
airgument but frae steekit neives； an' it's fell cruel to haud it
frae them； gin ye hae't to gie them。 I hae had eneuch ado to haud
my ain han's aff o' the ted； but it comes a hantle better frae you；
Mr。 Sutherlan'。〃
Hugh wielded the scythe the whole of the harvest； and Margaret
gathered to him。 By the time it was over； leading…home and all； he
measured an inch less about the waist； and two inches more about the
shoulders； and was as brown as a berry； and as strong as an ox； or
〃owse；〃 as David called it； when thus describing Mr。 Sutherland's
progress in corporal development； for he took a fatherly pride in
the youth； to whom； at the same time； he looked up with submission；
as his master in learning。
CHAPTER XI。
A CHANGE AND NO CHANGE。
Affliction； when I know it； is but this
A deep alloy； whereby man tougher is
To bear the hammer； and the deeper still；
We still arise more image of his will。
Sicknessan humorous cloud 'twist us and light；
And death； at longest； but another night。
Man is his own star； and that soul that can
Be honest； is the only perfect Man。
JOHN FLETCHER。Upon an Honest Man's Fortune。
Had Sutherland been in love with Margaret； those would have been
happy days； and that a yet more happy night； when； under the mystery
of a low moonlight and a gathering storm； the crop was cast in haste
into the carts； and hurried home to be built up in safety； when a
strange low wind crept sighing across the stubble； as if it came
wandering out of the past and the land of dreams； lying far off and
withered in the green west； and when Margaret and he came and went
in the moonlight like creatures in a dreamfor the vapours of sleep
were floating in Hugh's brain