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lady Arctura； there is no chance in this or in anything！ We will not
forget you； and in three weeks or a month we shall be back。〃
〃That is a long time；〃 said Arctura； ready to weep again。
Is it necessary to say she was not a weak woman？ It is not betrayal
of feeling； but avoidance of duty； that constitutes weakness。 After
an illness he has borne like a hero； a strong man may be ready to
weep like a child。 What the common people of society think about
strength and weakness； is poor stuff； like the rest of their wisdom。
She speedily recovered her composure； and with the gentlest smile
bade Donal good…bye。 She was in her sitting…room next the
state…chamber where she now slept； the sun was shining in at the
open window； and with it came the song of a little bird； clear and
sweet。
〃You hear him；〃 said Donal。 〃how he trusts God without knowing it！
We are made able to trust him knowing in whom we believe！ Ah； dear
lady Arctura！ no heart even yet can tell what things God has in
store for them who will just let him have his way with them。
Good…bye。 Write to me if anything comes to you that I can help you
in。 And be sure I will make haste to you the moment you let me know
you want me。〃
〃Thank you； Mr。 Grant： I know you mean every word you say！ If I need
you； I will not hesitate to send for youonly if you come； it will
be as my friend； and not〃
〃It will be as your servant； not lord Morven's；〃 said Donal。 〃I
quite understand。 Good bye。 The father of Jesus Christ； who was so
sure of him； will take care of you： do not be afraid。〃
He turned and went； he could no longer bear the look of her eyes。
CHAPTER LXXI。
GLASHGAR。
Out of Arctura's sight Donal had his turn of so…called weakness！
The day was a glorious one； and Davie； full of spirits； could not
understand why he seemed so unlike himself。
〃Arkie would scold you； Mr。 Grant！〃 he said。
Donal avoided the town； and walked a long way round to get into the
road beyond it； his head bent as if he were pondering a pain。 At
moments he felt as if he must return at once； and refuse to leave
the castle for any reason。 But he could not see that it was the will
of God he should do so。 A presentiment is not a command。 A prophecy
may fail of the least indication of duty。 Hamlet defying augury is
the consistent religious man Shakspere takes pains to show him。 A
presentiment may be true； may be from God himself； yet involve no
reason why a man should change his way； should turn a step aside
from the path before him。 St。 Paul received warning after warning on
his road to Jerusalem that bonds and imprisonment awaited him； and
these warnings he knew came from the spirit of prophecy； but he
heeded them only to set his face like a flint。 He knew better than
imagine duty determined by consequences； or take foresight for
direction。 There is a higher guide； and he followed that。 So did
Donal now。 Moved to go back； he did not go backneither afterwards
repented that he did not。
I will not describe the journey。 Suffice it to say that； after a few
days of such walking as befitted an unaccustomed boy； they climbed
the last hill； crossed the threshold of Robert Grant's cottage； and
were both clasped in the embrace of Janet。 For Davie rushed into the
arms of Donal's mother； and she took him to the same heart to which
she had taken wee sir Gibbie： the bosom of the peasant woman was
indeed one to fee to。
Then followed delights which more than equalled the expectations of
Davie。 One of them was seeing how Donal was loved。 Another was a new
sense of freedom： he had never imagined such liberty as he now
enjoyed。 It was as if God were giving it to him。 fresh out of his
sky； his mountains； his winds。 Then there was the twilight on the
hill…side； with the sheep growing dusky around him； when Donal would
talk about the shepherd of the human sheep； and hearing him Davie
felt not only that there was once； but that there is now a man
altogether lovelythe heart of all beauty everywherea man who
gave himself up to his perfect father and his father's most
imperfect children； that he might bring his brothers and sisters
home to their father； for all his delight is in his father and his
father's children。 He showed him how the heart of Jesus was； all
through； the heart of a son； a son that adored his perfect father；
and how if he had not had his perfect son to help him； God could not
have made any of us； could never have got us to be his little sons
and daughters； loving him with all our might。 Then Davie's heart
would glow； and he would feel ready to do whatever that son might
want him to do； and Donal hoped； and had good ground for hoping；
that； when the hour of trial came； the youth would be able to hold；
not merely by the unseen； but by the seemingly unpresent and unfelt；
in the name of the eternally true。
Donal's youth began to seem far behind him。 All bitterness was gone
out of his memories of lady Galbraith。 He loved her tenderly； but
was pleased she should be Gibbie's。
How much of this happy change was owing to his interest in lady
Arctura he did not inquire： greatly interested in hermore in very
important ways than he had ever been in lady Galbraithhe was so
jealous of his heart； shrank so much from the danger of folly； knew
so well how small an amount of yielding might unfit him for the
manly and fresh performance of his dutiesamong which came first a
due regard for her well…being lest he should himself fail or mislead
herthat he often turned his thoughts into another channel； lest in
that they should run too swiftly； deepen it too fast； and go far to
imprison themselves in another agony。
To lady Galbraith he confided his uneasiness about lady Arcturanot
that he could explainhe could only confess himself infected with
her uneasiness； and the rather that he knew better than she the
nature of those with whom she might have to cope。 If Mrs。 Brookes
had not been there； he dared not have come away； he said； leaving
her with such a dread upon her。
Sir Gibbie listened open…mouthed to the tale of the finding of the
lost chapel； hidden away because it held the dust of the dead； and
perhaps sometimes their wandering ghosts。
They assured him that； if he would bring lady Arctura to them； they
would take care of her： had she not better give up the weary
property； they said； and come and live with them； and be free as the
lark？ But Donal said； that； if God had given her a property； he
would not have her forsake her post； but wait for him to relieve
her。 She must administer her own kingdom ere she could have an
abundant entrance into his！ Only he wished he were near her again to
help her！
CHAPTER LXXII。
SENT； NOT CALLED。
He had been at home about ten days； during which not a word had come
to Davie or himself from the castle； and was beginning to grow； not
perhaps anxious； but hungry for news of lady Arctura； when from a
sound sleep he started suddenly awake one midnight to find his
mother by his bedside： she had roused him with difficulty。
〃Laddie；〃 she said； 〃I'm thinkin ye're wantit。〃
〃Whaur am I wantit； mother？〃 he asked； rubbing his eyes； but with
anxiety already throb