and held and climbed
again. He saw that because he had done that, time and time again done
that.

Mr. M'Nab preached a courageous, if harsh, sermon. The old words of
commination! They were not empty--but in among them, fine as ether,
now ran a gloss.... The sermon ended, the final psalm was sung.

"When Zion's bondage God turned back,
As men that dreamed were we.
Then filled with laughter was our mouth.
Our tongue with melody--"

But the Scots congregation went out, to the eye sober, stern, and
staid. Glenfernie spoke to Jarvis Barrow. He meant to do no more than
give a word of greeting. But the old man put forth an emaciated hand
and held him.

"Is it the auld laird? My eyes are na gude.--Eh, laird, I remember the
sermons of your grandfather, Gawin Elliot! Aye, aye! he was a lion
against sinners! I hae seen them cringe!... It is the auld laird,
Gilian?"

"No, Grandfather. You remember that the old laird was William. This is
Mr. Alexander."

"He that was always aff somewhere alane?" White Farm drew his mind
together. "I see now! You're right. I remember."

"I am coming to White Farm to-morrow, Mr. Barrow."

"Come then.... Is Grierson slain?"

"He's away in past time," said Gilian. "Grandfather, here's Willy to
help you.--Don't say anything more to him now, Glenfernie."

The next day he rode to White Farm. Jenny, through the window, saw him
coming, but Jarvis Barrow, old bodily habits changing, lay sleeping on
his own bed. Nor was Gilian at hand. The laird sat and talked with
Jenny in the clean, spare living-room. All the story of her crippling
was to be told, and a packed chest of country happenings gone over.
Jenny had a happy, voluble half-hour. At last, the immediate bag
exhausted, she began to cast her mind in a wider circle. Her words
came at a slower pace, at last halted. She sat in silence, an apple
red in her cheeks. She eyed askance the man over against her, and at
last burst forth:

"Gilian said I should na speir--but, eh, Glenfernie, I wad gie mair
than a bawbee to ken what you did to him!"

"Nothing."

"Naething?"

"Nothing that you would call anything."

Jenny sat with open mouth. "They said you'd changed, even to look
at--and sae you have!--_Naething!_"

Jarvis Barrow entered the room, and with him came Gilian. The old man
failed, failed. Now he knew Glenfernie and spoke to him of to-day and
of yesterday--and now he addressed him as though he were his father,
th