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Donal sat down； and took his Greek Testament from his pocket。 But
all at once； brilliant as was the sun； the light of his life went
out； and the vision rose of the gray quarry； and the girl turning
from him in the wan moonlight。 Then swift as thought followed the
vision of the women weeping about the forsaken tomb； and with his
risen Lord he rose alsointo a region far 〃above the smoke and stir
of this dim spot；〃 a region where life is good even with its sorrow。
The man who sees his disappointment beneath him； is more blessed
than he who rejoices in fruition。 Then prayer awoke； and in the
light of that morning of peace he drew nigh the living one； and knew
him as the source of his being。 Weary with blessedness he leaned
against the shadowing honeysuckle； gave a great sigh of content；
smiled； wiped his eyes； and was ready for the day and what it should
bring。 But the bliss went not yet； he sat for a while in the joy of
conscious loss in the higher life。 With his meditations and
feelings mingled now and then a few muffled blows of the cobbler's
hammer： he was once more at work on his disabled shoe。
〃Here is a true man！〃 he thought； 〃a Godlike helper of his
fellow！〃
When the hammer ceased； the cobbler was stitching； when Donal ceased
thinking； he went on feeling。 Again and again came a little roll of
the cobbler's drum； giving glory to God by doing his will： the
sweetest and most acceptable music is that which rises from work a
doing； its incense ascends as from the river in its flowing； from
the wind in its blowing； from the grass in its growing。 All at once
he heard the voices of two women in the next garden； close behind
him； talking together。
〃Eh；〃 said one； 〃there's that godless cratur； An'rew Comin； at his
wark again upo' the Sawbath mornin'！〃
〃Ay； lass；〃 answered the other； 〃I hear him！ Eh； but it 'll be an
ill day for him whan he has to appear afore the jeedge o' a'！ He
winna hae his comman'ments broken that gait！〃
〃Troth； na！〃 returned the former； 〃it'll be a sair sattlin day for
him！〃
Donal rose； and looking about him； saw two decent； elderly women on
the other side of the low stone wall。 He was approaching them with
the request on his lips to know which of the Lord's commandments
they supposed the cobbler to be breaking； when； seeing that he must
have overheard them； they turned their backs and walked away。
And now his hostess； having discovered he was in the garden； came to
call him to breakfastthe simplest of mealsporridge； with a cup
of tea after it because it was Sunday； and there was danger of
sleepiness at the kirk。
〃Yer shune 's waitin' ye； sir；〃 said the cobbler。 〃Ye'll fin' them a
better job nor ye expeckit。 They're a better job； onygait； nor I
expeckit！〃
Donal made haste to put them on； and felt dressed for the Sunday。
〃Are ye gaein' to the kirk the day； Anerew？〃 asked the old woman；
adding； as she turned to their guest； 〃My man's raither pecooliar
aboot gaein' to the kirk！ Some days he'll gang three times； an'
some days he winna gang ance！He kens himsel' what for！〃 she added
with a smile； whose sweetness confessed that； whatever was the
reason； it was to her the best in the world。
〃Ay； I'm gaein' the day： I want to gang wi' oor new freen'；〃 he
answered。
〃I'll tak him gien ye dinna care to gang；〃 rejoined his wife。
〃Ow； I'll gang！〃 he persisted。 〃It'll gie's something to talk aboot；
an' sae ken ane anither better； an' maybe come a bit nearer ane
anither； an' sae a bit nearer the maister。 That's what we're here
forcomin' an' gaein'。〃
〃As ye please； Anerew！ What's richt to you's aye richt to me。 O'
my ain sel' I wad be doobtfu' o' sic a rizzon for gaein' to the
kirkto get something to speyk aboot。〃
〃It's a gude rizzon whaur ye haena a better；〃 he answered。 〃It's
aften I get at the kirk naething but what angers melees an' lees
agen my Lord an' my God。 But whan there's ane to talk it ower wi'；
ane 'at has some care for God as weel's for himsel'； there's some
guid sure to come oot o' 'tsome revelation o' the real
richteousnessno what fowk 'at gangs by the ministers ca's
richteousness。Is yer shune comfortable to yer feet； sir？〃
〃Ay； that they are！ an' I thank ye： they're full better nor new。〃
〃Weel； we winna hae worship this mornin'； whan ye gang to the kirk
it's like aitin' mair nor's guid for ye。〃
〃Hoots； Anerew！ ye dinna think a body can hae ower muckle o' the
word！〃 said his wife； anxious as to the impression he might make on
Donal。
〃Ow na； gien a body tak it in； an' disgeist it！ But it's no a bonny
thing to hae the word stickin' about yer moo'； an' baggin' oot yer
pooches； no to say lyin' cauld upo' yer stamack； an' it for the life
o' men。 The less ye tak abune what ye put in practice the better；
an' gien the thing said hae naething to du wi' practice； the less ye
heed it the better。Gien ye hae dune yer brakfast； sir； we'll
gangno 'at it's freely kirk…time yet； but the Sabbath 's 'maist
the only day I get a bit o' a walk； an' gien ye hae nae objection
til a turn aboot the Lord's muckle hoose afore we gang intil his
little anewe ca' 't his； but I doobt itI'll be ready in a
meenute。〃
Donal willingly agreed； and the cobbler； already clothed in part of
his Sunday best； a pair of corduroy trousers of a mouse colour；
having indued an ancient tail…coat of blue with gilt buttons； they
set out together； and for their conversation； it was just the same
as it would have been any other day： where every day is not the
Lord's； the Sunday is his least of all。
They left the town； and were soon walking in meadows through which
ran a clear river； shining and speedy in the morning sun。 Its banks
were largely used for bleaching； and the long lines of white in the
lovely green of the natural grass were pleasant both to eye and
mind。 All about； the rooks were feeding in peace； knowing their
freedom that day from the persecution to which； like all other doers
of good； they are in general exposed。 Beyond the stream lay a level
plain stretching towards the sea； divided into numberless fields；
and dotted with farmhouses and hamlets。 On the side where the
friends were walking； the ground was more broken； rising in places
into small hills； many of them wooded。 Half a mile away was one of
a conical shape； on whose top towered a castle。 Old and gray and
sullen； it lifted itself from the foliage around it like a great
rock from a summer sea； and stood out against the clear blue sky of
the June morning。 The hill was covered with wood； mostly rather
young； but at the bottom were some ancient firs and beeches。 At the
top； round the base of the castle； the trees were chiefly delicate
birches with moonlight skin； and feathery larches not thriving over
well。
〃What ca' they yon castel？〃 questioned Donal。 〃It maun be a place o'
some importance！〃
〃They maistly ca' 't jist the castel；〃 answered the cobbler。 〃Its
auld name 's Graham's Grip。 It's lord Morven's place； an' they ca'
't Castel Graham： the faimily…name 's Graham； ye ken。 They ca；
themsel's Graeme…Grahamjist twa w'ys o' spellin' the name putten
thegither。 The last lord； no upo' the main brainch； they tell