pe down from the sky above the sky of lightnings. He
spoke.

"There were duties now to be taken up. I could not stay away all nor
most nor much of the time. I saw that. But I could study here, and
once in a while run somewhere over the earth.... But now I would stay
in this dale till I die! Unless you were with me--the two of us going
to see the sights of the earth, and then returning home--going and
returning--going and returning--and both a great sweetness--"

"Oh!" breathed Elspeth. She put her hands again over her eyes, and she
saw, unrolling, a great fair life _if_--_if_--She rose to her feet.
"Let us go! It grows late. They'll miss me."

They came into the glen and so went down with the stream to the open
land and to White Farm.

"Where hae you been?" asked Jenny. "Here was father hame frae the
shearing with his eyes blurred, speiring for you to read to him!"

"I was walking by the glen and the laird came down through, so we made
here together. Where is grandfather?"

"He wadna sit waiting. He's gane to walk on the muir. Will ye na bide,
Glenfernie?"

But the laird would not stay. It was wearing toward sunset. Menie,
withindoors, called Jenny. The latter turned away. Glenfernie spoke to
Elspeth.

"If I find your grandfather on the moor I shall speak of this that is
between us. Do not look so troubled! 'If' or 'if not' it is better to
tell. So you will not be plagued. And, anyhow, it is the wise folks'
road."

Back came Jenny. "Has he gane? I had for him a tass of wine and a bit
of cake."

The moor lay like a stiffened billow of the sea, green with purple
glints. The clear western sky was ruddy gold, the sun's great ball
approaching the horizon. But when it dipped the short June night
would know little dark in this northern land. The air struck most
fresh and pure. Glenfernie came presently upon the old farmer, found
him seated upon a bit of bank, his gray plaid about him, his
crook-like stick planted before him, his eyes upon the western sea of
glory. The younger man stopped beside him, settled down upon the bank,
and gazed with the elder into the ocean of colored air.

"Ae gowden floor as though it were glass," said Jarvis Barrow. "Ae
gowden floor and ae river named of Life, passing the greatness of
Orinoco or Amazon. And the tree of life for the healing of the
nations. And a' the trees that ever leafed or flowered, ta'en
together, but ae withered twig to that!"

Glenfernie gazed with him. "I do