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the head； passed on； leaving poor Margaret both angry and ashamed。
But David was much respected by the gentry of the neighbourhood；
with whom his position； as the laird's steward； brought him not
unfrequently into contact； and to several of them he mentioned his
desire of finding some situation for Margaret。 Janet could not bear
the idea of her lady…bairn leaving them； to encounter the world
alone； but David； though he could not help sometimes feeling a
similar pang； was able to take to himself hearty comfort from the
thought； that if there was any safety for her in her father's house；
there could not be less in her heavenly Father's； in any nook of
which she was as full in His eye； and as near His heart； as in their
own cottage。 He felt that anxiety in this case； as in every other；
would just be a lack of confidence in God； to suppose which
justifiable would be equivalent to saying that He had not fixed the
foundations of the earth that it should not be moved； that He was
not the Lord of Life； nor the Father of His children； in short； that
a sparrow could fall to the ground without Him； and that the hairs
of our head are not numbered。 Janet admitted all this； but sighed
nevertheless。 So did David too； at times； for he knew that the
sparrow must fall； that many a divine truth is hard to learn；
all…blessed as it is when learned； and that sorrow and suffering
must come to Margaret； ere she could be fashioned into the
perfection of a child of the kingdom。 Still； she was as safe abroad
as at home。
An elderly lady of fortune was on a visit to one of the families in
the neighbourhood。 She was in want of a lady's…maid； and it
occurred to the housekeeper that Margaret might suit her。 This was
not quite what her parents would have chosen； but they allowed her
to go and see the lady。 Margaret was delighted with the
benevolent…looking gentlewoman； and she； on her part； was quite
charmed with Margaret。 It was true she knew nothing of the duties
of the office； but the present maid； who was leaving on the best of
terms； would soon initiate her into its mysteries。 And David and
Janet were so much pleased with Margaret's account of the interview；
that David himself went to see the lady。 The sight of him only
increased her desire to have Margaret； whom she said she would treat
like a daughter； if only she were half as good as she looked。
Before David left her； the matter was arranged； and within a month；
Margaret was borne in her mistress's carriage； away from father and
mother and cottage…home。
END OF THE FIRST BOOK。
BOOK II。
ARNSTEAD。
The earth hath bubbles as the water has。
MACBETH。I。3
CHAPTER I。
A NEW HOME。
A wise man's home is whereso'er he's wise。
JOHN MARSTON。Antonio's Revenge。
Hugh left the North dead in the arms of grey winter； and found his
new abode already alive in the breath of the west wind。 As he
walked up the avenue to the house； he felt that the buds were
breaking all about； though； the night being dark and cloudy； the
green shadows of the coming spring were invisible。
He was received at the hall…door； and shown to his room； by an old；
apparently confidential； and certainly important butler； whose
importance； however； was inoffensive； as founded； to all appearance；
on a sense of family and not of personal dignity。 Refreshment was
then brought him； with the message that； as it was late； Mr。 Arnold
would defer the pleasure of meeting him till the morning at
breakfast。
Left to himself； Hugh began to look around him。 Everything
suggested a contrast between his present position and that which he
had first occupied about the same time of the year at Turriepuffit。
He was in an old handsome room of dark wainscot； furnished like a
library； with book…cases about the walls。 One of them； with glass
doors； had an ancient escritoire underneath； which was open； and
evidently left empty for his use。 A fire was burning cheerfully in
an old high grate； but its light； though assisted by that of two wax
candles on the table； failed to show the outlines of the room； it
was so large and dark。 The ceiling was rather low in proportion；
and a huge beam crossed it。 At one end； an open door revealed a
room beyond； likewise lighted with fire and candles。 Entering； he
found this to be an equally old…fashioned bedroom； to which his
luggage had been already conveyed。
〃As far as creature comforts go；〃 thought Hugh； 〃I have fallen on my
feet。〃 He rang the bell； had the tray removed； and then proceeded
to examine the book…cases。 He found them to contain much of the
literature with which he was most desirous of making an
acquaintance。 A few books of the day were interspersed。 The sense
of having good companions in the authors around him； added greatly
to his feeling of comfort； and he retired for the night filled with
pleasant anticipations of his sojourn at Arnstead。 All the night；
however； his dreams were of wind and snow； and Margaret out in them
alone。 Janet was waiting in the cottage for him to bring her home。
He had found her； but could not move her； for the spirit of the
storm had frozen her to ice； and she was heavy as a marble statue。
When he awoke； the shadows of boughs and budding twigs were waving
in changeful network…tracery； across the bright sunshine on his
window…curtains。 Before he was called he was ready to go down； and
to amuse himself till breakfast…time； he proceeded to make another
survey of the books。 He concluded that these must be a colony from
the mother…library； and also that the room must； notwithstanding； be
intended for his especial occupation； seeing his bedroom opened out
of it。 Next； he looked from all the windows； to discover into what
kind of a furrow on the face of the old earth he had fallen。 All he
could see was trees and trees。 But oh！ how different from the
sombre； dark； changeless fir…wood at Turriepuffit！ whose trees
looked small and shrunken in his memory； beside this glory of
boughs； breaking out into their prophecy of an infinite greenery at
hand。 His rooms seemed to occupy the end of a small wing at the
back of the house； as well as he could judge。 His sitting…room
windows looked across a small space to another wing； and the windows
of his bedroom； which were at right…angles to those of the former；
looked full into what seemed an ordered ancient forest of gracious
trees of all kinds； coming almost close to the very windows。 They
were the trees which had been throwing their shadows on these
windows for two or three hours of the silent spring sunlight； at
once so liquid and so dazzling。 Then he resolved to test his
faculty for discovery； by seeing whether he could find his way to
the breakfast…room without a guide。 In this he would have succeeded
without much difficulty； for it opened from the main…entrance hall；
to which the huge square…turned oak staircase； by which he had
ascended； led； had it not been for the somewhat intricate nature of
the passages leading from the wing in which his rooms were
（evidently an older and more retired portion of the house） to the
main staircase itself。 After opening many doors and find