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to meet； met him。 For； first； at the foot of a tree； he spied a
tiny primrose； peeping out of its rough； careful leaves； and he
wondered how； by any metamorphosis； such leaves could pass into such
a flower。 Had he seen the mother of the next spring…messenger he
was about to meet； the same thought would have returned in another
form。 For； next； as he passed on with the primrose in his hand；
thinking it was almost cruel to pluck it； the Spring met him； as if
in her own shape； in the person of Margaret； whom he spied a little
way off； leaning against the stem of a Scotch fir； and looking up to
its top swaying overhead in the first billows of the outburst ocean
of life。 He went up to her with some shyness； for the presence of
even a child…maiden was enough to make Sutherland shypartly from
the fear of startling her shyness； as one feels when drawing near a
couching fawn。 But she； when she heard his footsteps； dropped her
eyes slowly from the tree…top； and； as if she were in her own
sanctuary； waited his approach。 He said nothing at first； but
offered her； instead of speech； the primrose he had just plucked；
which she received with a smile of the eyes only； and the sweetest
〃thank you； sir；〃 he had ever heard。 But while she held the
primrose in her hand； her eyes wandered to the book which； according
to his custom； Sutherland had caught up as he left the house。 It
was the only well…bound book in his possession； and the eyes of
Margaret； not yet tutored by experience； naturally expected an
entrancing page within such beautiful boards； for the gayest
bindings she had seen； were those of a few old annuals up at the
houseand were they not full of the most lovely tales and pictures？
In this case； however； her expectation was not vain； for the volume
was； as I have already disclosed； Coleridge's Poems。
Seeing her eyes fixed upon the book〃Would you like to read it？〃
said he。
〃If you please； sir；〃 answered Margaret； her eyes brightening with
the expectation of deliglit。
〃Are you fond of poetry？〃
Her face fell。 The only poetry she knew was the Scotch Psalms and
Paraphrases； and such last…century verses as formed the chief part
of the selections in her school…books； for this was a very retired
parish； and the newer books had not yet reached its school。 She had
hoped chiefly for tales。
〃I dinna ken much about poetry；〃 she answered； trying to speak
English。 〃There's an old book o't on my father's shelf； but the
letters o't are auld…fashioned； an' I dinna care aboot it。〃
〃But this is quite easy to read； and very beautiful；〃 said Hugh。
The girl's eyes glistened for a moment； and this was all her reply。
〃Would you like to read it？〃 resumed Hugh； seeing no further answer
was on the road。
She held out her hand towards the volume。 When he； in his turn；
held the volume towards her hand； she almost snatched it from him；
and ran towards the house； without a word of thanks or
leave…takingwhether from eagerness； or doubt of the propriety of
accepting the offer； Hugh could not conjecture。 He stood for some
moments looking after her； and then retraced his steps towards the
house。
It would have been something； in the monotony of one of the most
trying of positions； to meet one who snatched at the offered means
of spiritual growth； even if that disciple had not been a lovely
girl； with the woman waking in her eyes。 He commenced the duties of
the day with considerably more of energy than he had yet brought to
bear on his uninteresting pupils； and this energy did not flag
before its effects upon the boys began to react in fresh impulse
upon itself。
CHAPTER IV。
THE COTTAGE。
O little Bethlem！ poor in walls；
But rich in furniture。
JOHN MASON'S Spiritual Songs。
There was one great alleviation to the various discomforts of
Sutherland's tutor…life。 It was； that； except during school…hours；
he was expected to take no charge whatever of his pupils。 They ran
wild all other times； which was far better； in every way； both for
them and for him。 Consequently； he was entirely his own master
beyond the fixed margin of scholastic duties； and he soon found that
his absence； even from the table； was a matter of no interest to the
family。 To be sure； it involved his own fasting till the next
meal…time came roundfor the lady was quite a household martinet；
but that was his own concern。
That very evening； he made his way to David's cottage； about the
country supper…time； when he thought he should most likely find him
at home。 It was a clear； still； moonlit night； with just an air of
frost。 There was light enough for him to see that the cottage was
very neat and tidy； looking； in the midst of its little forest； more
like an English than a Scotch habitation。 He had had the advantage
of a few months' residence in a leafy region on the other side of
the Tweed； and so was able to make the comparison。 But what a
different leafage that was from this！ That was soft； floating；
billowy； this hard； stiff； and straight…lined； interfering so little
with the skeleton form； that it needed not to be put off in the
wintry season of death； to make the trees in harmony with the
landscape。 A light was burning in the cottage； visible through the
inner curtain of muslin； and the outer one of frost。 As he
approached the door； he heard the sound of a voice； and from the
even pitch of the tone； he concluded at once that its owner was
reading aloud。 The measured cadence soon convinced him that it was
verse that was being read； and the voice was evidently that of
David； and not of Margaret。 He knocked at the door。 The voice
ceased； chairs were pushed back； and a heavy step approached。 David
opened the door himself。
〃Eh！ Maister Sutherlan'；〃 said he； 〃I thocht it micht aiblins be
yersel。 Ye're welcome； sir。 Come butt the hoose。 Our place is but
sma'； but ye'll no min' sitttin' doon wi' our ain sels。 Janet；
ooman； this is Maister Sutherlan'。 Maggy； my doo； he's a frien' o'
yours； o' a day auld； already。 Ye're kindly welcome； Maister
Sutherlan'。 I'm sure it's verra kin' o' you to come an' see the
like o' huz。〃
As Hugh entered； he saw his own bright volume lying on the table；
evidently that from which David had just been reading。
Margaret had already placed for him a cushioned arm…chair； the only
comfortable one in the house； and presently； the table being drawn
back； they were all seated round the peat…fire on the hearth； the
best sort for keeping feet warm at least。 On the crook； or hooked
iron…chain suspended within the chimney； hung a three…footed pot； in
which potatoes were boiling away merrily for supper。 By the side of
the wide chimney； or more properly lum； hung an iron lamp； of an old
classical form common to the country； from the beak of which
projected； almost horizontally； the lighted wickthe pith of a
rush。 The light perched upon it was small but clear； and by it
David had been reading。 Margaret sat right under it； upon a
creepie； or small three…legged wooden stool。 Sitting thus； with the
light falling on her from above； Hugh could not help thinking she
looked very pretty。 Almost the only object in