and he rejoiced to
know himself so nearly on the same social level of birth as the Master
of his life and aspiration. It was Donal's one ambition--to give the
high passion a low name--to be free with the freedom which was his
natural inheritance, and which is to be gained only by obedience to the
words of the Master. From the face of this aspiration fled every kind
of pretence as from the light flies the darkness. Hence he was
entirely and thoroughly a gentleman. What if his clothes were not even
of the next to the newest cut! What if he had not been used to what is
called society! He was far above such things. If he might but attain
to the manners of the "high countries," manners which appear because
they exist--because they are all through the man! He did not think
what he might seem in the eyes of men. Courteous, helpful,
considerate, always seeking first how far he could honestly agree with
any speaker, opposing never save sweetly and apologetically--except
indeed some utterance flagrantly unjust were in his ears--there was no
man of true breeding, in or out of society, who would not have granted
that Donal was fit company for any man or woman. Mr. Graeme's eye
glanced down over the tall square-shouldered form, a little stooping
from lack of drill and much meditation, but instantly straightening
itself upon any inward stir, and he said to himself, "This is no common
man!"

They were moving slowly along the avenue, Donal by the rider's near
knee, talking away like men not unlikely soon to know each other better.

"You don't make much use of this avenue!" said Donal.

"No; its use is an old story. The castle was for a time deserted, and
the family, then passing through a phase of comparative poverty, lived
in the house we are in now--to my mind much the more comfortable."

"What a fine old place it must be, if such trees are a fit approach to
it!"

"They were never planted for that; they are older far. Either there
was a wood here, and the rest were cut down and these left, or there
was once a house much older than the present. The look of the garden,
and some of the offices, favour the latter idea."

"I have never seen the house," said Donal.

"You have not then been much about yet?" said Mr. Graeme.

"I have been so occupied with my pupil, and so delighted with all that
lay immediately around me, that I have gone nowhere--except, indeed, to
see Andrew Comin, the cobbler."

"Ah, you know him!