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A PLOT.
But his lordship had his suspicions, and took measures to confirm or
set them at rest--with the result that he concluded Donal madly in
love with his niece, and unable, while she was ill, to rest anywhere
but, with the devotion of a savage, outside her door: if he did not
take precautions, the lout would oust the lord! Ever since Donal
spoke so plainly against his self-indulgence, he had not merely
hated but feared the country lad. He recognized that Donal feared
nothing, had no respect of persons, would speak out before the
world. He was doubtful also whether he had not allowed him to know
more than it was well he should know. It was time to get rid of
him--only it must be done cautiously, with the appearance of a good
understanding! If he had him out of the house before she was able to
see him again, that would do! And if in the meantime she should die,
all would be well! His distrust, once roused, went farther than that
of his son. He had not the same confidence in blue blood; he knew a
few things more than Forgue--believed it quite possible that the
daughter of a long descent of lords and ladies should fall in love
with a shepherd-lad. And as no one could tell what might have to be
done if the legal owner of the property persisted in refusing her
hand to the rightful owner of it, the fellow might be seriously in
the way!
Arctura slowly recovered. She had not yet left her room, but had
been a few hours on the couch every day for a fortnight, and the
doctor, now sanguine of her final recovery, began to talk of
carrying her to the library. The earl, who never suspected that Mrs.
Brookes, having hitherto kept himself from her room, would admit the
tutor, the moment he learned that the library was in view for her,
decided that there must be no more delay. He had by this time
contrived a neat little plan.
He sent for Donal. He had been thinking, the earl said, that he must
want a holiday: he had not seen his parents since he came to the
castle! and he had been thinking besides, how desirable it was that
Davie should see some other phases of life than those to which he
had hitherto been accustomed. There was great danger of boys brought
up in his position getting narrow, and careless of the lives and
feelings of their fellowmen! He would take it as a great kindness if
Donal, who had a regard to the real education of his pupil, would
take him to his home, and let him understand the ways of life among
the humbler classes of the nation--so that, if ever he went into
parliament, he might have the advantage of knowing the heart of the
people for whom he would have to legislate.
Donal listened, and could not but agree with the remarks of his
lordship. In himself he had not the least faith--wondered indeed
which of them thought the other the greater fool to imagine that
after all that had passed Donal would place any confidence in what
the earl said; but he listened. What lord Morven really had in his
mind, he could not surmise; but not the less to take Davie to his
father and mother was a delightful idea. The boy was growing fast,
and had revealed a faculty quite rare in one so young, for looking
to the heart of things, and seeing the relation of man to man;
therefore such a lesson as the earl proposed would indeed be
invaluable to him! Then again, this faculty had been opened in him
through a willing perception of those eternal truths, in a still
higher relation of persons, which are open only to the childlike
nature; whence he would be especially fitted for such company as
that of his father and mother, who could now easily receive the boy
as well as himself, since their house and their general worldly
condition had been so much bettered by their friend, sir Gibbie!
With them Davie would see genuine life, simplicity, dignity, and
unselfishness--the very embodiment of the things he held constantly
before him! There might be some other reason behind the earl's
request which it would be well for him to know; but he would sooner
discover that by a free consent than by hanging back: anything bad
it could hardly be! He shrank indeed from leaving lady Arctura while
she was yet so far from well, but she was getting well much faster
now: for a fortnight there had been no necessity for his presence to
soothe her while she slept. Neither did she yet know, so far, at
least, as he or mistress Brookes was aware, that he had ever been
near her in the night! It was well also because of the position of
things between him and lord Forgue, that he should be away for a
while: it would give a chance for that foolish soul to settle down,
and let common sense assume the reins, while yet the better coachman
was not allowed to mount the box! He had, of course, heard nothing
of the strained relations between him and lady Arctura; he might
otherwise have been a little more anxious. For the earl, Davie, he
thought, would be a kind of pledge or hostage--in regard of what, he
could not specify; but, though he little suspected what such a man
was capable of sacrificing to gain a cherished end, some security
for him, some hold over him, seemed to Donal not undesirable.
When Davie heard the proposal, he was wild with joy. Actually to see
the mountains, and the sheep, and the colleys, of which Donal had
told him such wonderful things! To be out all night, perhaps, with
Donal and the dogs and the stars and the winds! Perhaps a storm
would come, and he would lie in Donal's plaid under some great rock,
and hear the wind roaring around them, but not able to get at them!
And the sheep would come and huddle close up to them, and keep them
warm with their woolly sides! and he would stroke their heads and
love them! Davie was no longer a mere child--far from it; but what
is loveliest in the child's heart was only the stronger in him; and
the prospect of going with Donal was a thing to be dreamed of day
and night till it came! Nor were the days many before their
departure was definitely settled.
The earl would have Mr. Grant treat his pupil precisely as one of
his own standing: he might take him on foot if he pleased!
The suggestion was eagerly accepted by both. They got their boxes
ready for the carrier, packed their wallets, and one lovely morning
late in spring, just as summer was showing her womanly face through
its smiles and tears, they set out together.
It was with no small dismay that Arctura heard of the proposal. She
said nothing, however--only when Donal came to take his leave she
broke down a little.
"We shall often wish, Davie and I, that you were with us, my lady,"
he said.
"Why?" she asked, unable to say more.
"Because we shall often feel happy, and what then can we do but wish
you shared our happiness!"
She burst into tears, and presently was able to speak.
"Don't think me silly," she said. "I know God is with me, and as
soon as you are gone I will go to him to comfort me. But I cannot
help feeling as if you were leaving me like a lamb among wolves. I
can give no reason for it; I only feel as if some danger were near
me. But I have you yet, mistress Brookes: God and you will take care
of me!--Indeed, if I hadn't you," she added, laughing through her
tears, "I should run away with Mr. Grant and Davie!"
"If I had known you felt like that," said Donal, "I would not have
gone. Yet I hardly see how I could have avoided it, being Davie's
tutor, and bound to do as his father wishes with him. Only, dear
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 you--only 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.
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