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They went out together； and when they had gone the round of the
place outside； Davie would have taken him over the house； but Donal
said they would leave something for another time； and made him lie
down for ten minutes。 This the boy thought a great hardship； but
Donal saw that he needed to be taught to rest。 Ten times in those
ten minutes he was on the point of jumping up； but Donal found a
word sufficient to restrain him。 When the ten minutes were over； he
set him an addition sum。 The boy protested he knew all the rules of
arithmetic。
〃But；〃 said Donal； 〃I must know that you know them； that is my
business。 Do this one； however easy it is。〃
The boy obeyed； and brought him the sumincorrect。
〃Now； Davie；〃 said Donal； 〃you said you knew all about addition； but
you have not done this sum correctly。〃
〃I have only made a blunder； sir。〃
〃But a rule is no rule if it is not carried out。 Everything goes on
the supposition of its being itself； and not something else。 People
that talk about good things without doing them are left out。 You
are not master of addition until your addition is to be depended
upon。〃
The boy found it hard to fix his attention： to fix it on something
he did not yet understand； would be too hard！ he must learn to do so
in the pursuit of accuracy where he already understood！ then he
would not have to fight two difficulties at oncethat of
understanding； and that of fixing his attention。 But for a long
time he never kept him more than a quarter of an hour at work on the
same thing。
When he had done the sum correctly； and a second without need of
correction； he told him to lay his slate aside； and he would tell
him a fairy…story。 Therein he succeeded tolerablyin the opinion
of Davie； wonderfully： what a tutor was this； who let fairies into
the school…room！
The tale was of no very original constructionthe youngest brother
gaining in the path of righteousness what the elder brothers lose
through masterful selfishness。 A man must do a thing because it is
right； even if he die for it； but truth were poor indeed if it did
not bring at last all things subject to it！ As beauty and truth are
one； so are truth and strength one。 Must God be ever on the cross；
that we poor worshippers may pay him our highest honour？ Is it not
enough to know that if the devil were the greater； yet would not God
do him homage； but would hang for ever on his cross？ Truth is joy
and victory。 The true hero is adjudged to bliss； nor can in the
nature of things； that is； of God； escape it。 He who holds by life
and resists death； must be victorious； his very life is a slaying of
death。 A man may die for his opinion； and may only be living to
himself： a man who dies for the truth； dies to himself and to all
that is not true。
〃What a beautiful story！〃 cried Davie when it ceased。 〃Where did you
get it； Mr。 Grant？〃
〃Where all stories come from。〃
〃Where is that？〃
〃The Think…book。〃
〃What a funny name！ I never heard it！ Will it be in the library？〃
〃No； it is in no library。 It is the book God is always writing at
one end； and blotting out at the other。 It is made of thoughts； not
words。 It is the Think…book。〃
〃Now I understand！ You got the story out of your own head！〃
〃Yes； perhaps。 But how did it get in to my head？〃
〃I can't tell that。 Nobody can tell that！〃
〃Nobody can that never goes up above his own headthat never shuts
the Think…book； and stands upon it。 When one does； then the
Think…book swells to a great mountain and lifts him up above all the
world： then he sees where the stories come from； and how they get
into his head。Are you to have a ride to…day？〃
〃I ride or not just as I like。〃
〃Well； we will now do just as we both like； I hope； and it will be
two likes instead of onethat is； if we are true friends。〃
〃We shall he true friendsthat we shall！〃
〃How can that bebetween a little boy like you； and a grown man
like me？〃
〃By me being good。〃
〃By both of us being goodno other way。 If one of us only was
good； we could never be true friends。 I must be good as well as
you； else we shall never understand each other！〃
〃How kind you are； Mr。 Grant！ You treat me just like another one！〃
said Davie。
〃But we must not forget that I am the big one and you the little
one； and that we can't be the other one to each other except the
little one does what the big one tells him！ That's the way to fit
into each other。〃
〃Oh； of course！〃 answered Davie； as if there could not be two minds
about that。
CHAPTER XV。
HORSE AND MAN。
During the first day and the next； Donal did not even come in sight
of any other of the family； but on the third day； after their short
early schoolfor he seldom let Davie work till he was tired； and
never aftergoing with him through the stable…yard； they came upon
lord Forgue as he mounted his horsea nervous； fiery； thin…skinned
thoroughbred。 The moment his master was on him； he began to back
and rear。 Forgue gave him a cut with his whip。 He went wild；
plunging and dancing and kicking。 The young lord was a horseman in
the sense of having a good seat； but he knew little about horses；
they were to him creatures to be compelled； not friends with whom to
hold sweet concert。 He had not learned that to rule ill is worse
than to obey ill。 Kings may be worse than it is in the power of any
subject to be。 As he was raising his arm for a second useless；
cruel； and dangerous blow； Donal darted to the horse's head。
〃You mustn't do that； my lord！〃 he said。 〃You'll drive him mad。〃
But the worst part of Forgue's nature was uppermost； in his rage all
the vices of his family rushed to the top。 He looked down on Donal
with a fury checked only by contempt。
〃Keep off；〃 he said； 〃or it will be the worse for you。 What do you
know about horses？〃
〃Enough to know that you are not fair to him。 I will not let you
strike the poor animal。 Just look at this water…chain！〃
〃Hold your tongue； and stand away； or； by〃
〃Ye winna fricht me； sir；〃 said Donal； whose English would； for
years； upon any excitement； turn cowardly and run away； leaving his
mother…tongue to bear the brunt； 〃I'm no timorsome。〃
Forgue brought down his whip with a great stinging blow upon Donal's
shoulder and back。 The fierce blood of the highland Celt rushed to
his brain； and had not the man in him held by God and trampled on
the devil； there might then have been miserable work。 But though he
clenched his teeth； he fettered his hands； and ruled his tongue； and
the Master of men was master still。
〃My lord；〃 he said； after one instant's thunderous silence； 〃there's
that i' me wad think as little o' throttlin' ye as ye du o'
ill…usin' yer puir beast。 But I'm no gaein' to drop his quarrel；
an' tak up my ain： that wad be cooardly。〃 Here he patted the
creature's neck； and recovering his composure and his English； went
on。 〃I tell you； my lord； the curb…chain is too tight！ The animal
is suffering as you can have no conception of； or you would pity
him。〃
〃Let him go；〃 cried Forgue； 〃or I will make you。〃
He raised his whip again； the more enraged that the groom stood
looking o