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.