out my life. Why
should we burden the mule of the present with the camel-load of the
future. I take what comes--what is sent me, that is."

"You are right, Mr. Grant! If I were in your position, I should think
just as you do. But, alas, I have never had any choice!"

"Perhaps your lordship has not chosen to choose!" Donal was on the
point of saying, but bethought himself in time not to hazard the remark.

"If I were a rich man, Mr. Grant," the earl continued, "I would secure
your services for a time indefinite; but, as every one knows, not an
acre of the property belongs to me, or goes with the title. Davie, dear
boy, will have nothing but a thousand or two. The marriage I have in
view for lord Forgue will arrange a future for him."

"I hope there will be some love in the marriage!" said Donal uneasily,
with a vague thought of Eppy.

"I had no intention," returned his lordship with cold politeness, "of
troubling you concerning lord Forgue!"

"I beg your pardon, my lord," said Donal.

"--Davie, poor boy--he is my anxiety!" resumed the earl, in his former
condescendingly friendly, half sleepy tone. "What to do with him, I
have not yet succeeded in determining. If the church of Scotland were
episcopal now, we might put him into that: he would be an honour to it!
But as it has no dignities to confer, it is not the place for one of
his birth and social position. A few shabby hundreds a year, and the
associations he would necessarily be thrown into!--However honourable
the profession in itself!" he added, with a bow to Donal, apparently
unable to get it out of his head that he had an embryo-clergyman before
him.

"Davie is not quite a man yet," said Donal; "and by the time he begins
to think of a profession, he will, I trust, be fit to make a choice:
the boy has a great deal of common sense. If your lordship will pardon
me, I cannot help thinking there is no need to trouble about him."

"It is very well for one in your position to think in that way, Mr.
Grant! Men like you are free to choose; you may make your bread as you
please. But men in our position are greatly limited in their choice;
the paths open to them are few. Tradition oppresses us. We are slaves
to the dead and buried. I could well wish I had been born in your
humbler but in truth less contracted sphere. Certain roles are not open
to you, to be sure; but your life in the open air, following your
sheep, and dreaming all things beautiful and grand in the