tood Gilian. Her head was turned
toward the fringed bank; when she saw Alexander she put her finger
against her lips. He made a gesture of understanding and went no
nearer. For a moment he stood regarding all, then drew back into
shadow of willow and aspen, descended the bank, and, mounting Black
Alan, rode home through the purple light.

CHAPTER XXXIII

The countryside, the village--the Jardine Arms--Mrs. Macmurdo in her
shop to all who entered--talked of the laird's homecoming. "He's a
strange sort!"

"Some do say he's been to America and found a gold-mine."

"Na! He's just been journeying around in himself."

"I am na spekalative. He's contentit, and sae am I. It's a mair
natural warld than ye think."

"Three year syne when he went away, he lookit like ane o' thae figures
o' tragedy--"

"Aweel, then, he's swallowed himself and digested it."

"I ca' it fair miracle! The Lord touched him in the night."

"Do ye haud that he'll gang to kirk the morn?"

"I dinna precisely ken. He micht, and he micht not."

He went, entering with Mrs. Grizel, Alice, and Strickland, sitting in
the House pew. How many kirks he thought of, sitting there--what
cathedrals, chapels; what rude, earnest places; what temples, mosques,
caves, ancient groves; what fanes; what worshiped gods! One, one!
Temple and image, worshiped and worshiper. Self helping self. "O my
Self, daily and deeply help myself!"

The little white stone building--the earnest, strenuous, narrow man in
the pulpit, the Scots congregation--old, old, familiar, with an inner
odor not unpungent, not unliked! Life Everlasting--Everlasting
Life....

"_That ye may have life and have it more abundantly._"

White Farm sat in the White Farm place. Jarvis Barrow was there. But
he did not sit erect as of yore; he leaned upon his staff. Jenny was
missed. Lame now, she stayed at home and watched the passing, and
talked to herself or talked to others. Gilian sat beside the old man.
Behind were Menie and Merran, Thomas and Willy. Glenfernie's eyes
dwelt quietly upon Jarvis and his granddaughter. When he willed he
could see Elspeth beside Gilian.

The prayers, the sermon, the hymns.... All through the world-body the
straining toward the larger thing, the enveloping Person! As he sat
there he felt blood-warmth, touch, with every foot that sought hold,
with every hand that reached. He saw the backward-falling, and he saw
that they did not fall forever, that they caught