e between two little doors in two
walls at opposite ends of the castle. One of these led to some of the
offices; the other admitted to a fruit garden which turned the western
shoulder of the hill, and found for the greater part a nearly southern
exposure. At this time of the year it was a lonely enough place, and at
this time of the day more than likely to be altogether deserted:
thither Donal would lead his friend. Going out therefore by the
kitchen-door, they went first into a stable-yard, from which descended
steps to the castle-well, on the level of the second terrace. Thence
they arrived, by more steps, at the mews where in old times the hawks
were kept, now rather ruinous though not quite neglected. Here the one
wall-door opened on the avenue which led to the other. It was one of
the pleasantest walks in immediate proximity to the castle.

The first of the steely stars were shining through the naked rafters of
leafless boughs overhead, as Donal and the cobbler stepped, gently
talking, into the aisle of trees. The old man looked up, gazed for a
moment in silence, and said:--

"'The heavens declare the glory o' God, an' the firmament showeth his
handy-work.' I used, whan I was a lad, to study astronomy a wee, i' the
houp o' better hearin' what the h'avens declared aboot the glory o'
God: I wud fain un'erstan' the speech ae day cried across the nicht to
the ither. But I was sair disapp'intit. The things the astronomer tellt
semple fowk war verra won'erfu', but I couldna fin' i' my hert 'at they
made me think ony mair o' God nor I did afore. I dinna mean to say they
michtna be competent to work that in anither, but it wasna my
experrience o' them. My hert was some sair at this, for ye see I was
set upo' winnin' intil the presence o' him I couldna bide frae, an' at
that time I hadna learnt to gang straucht to him wha's the express
image o' 's person, but, aye soucht him throuw the philosophy--eh, but
it was bairnly philosophy!--o' the guid buiks 'at dwall upo' the natur'
o' God an' a' that, an' his hatred o' sin an' a' that--pairt an' pairt
true, nae doobt! but I wantit God great an' near, an' they made him oot
sma', sma', an' unco' far awa'. Ae nicht I was oot by mysel' upo' the
shore, jist as the stars war teetin' oot. An' it wasna as gien they war
feart o' the sun, an' pleast 'at he was gane, but as gien they war a'
teetin' oot to see what had come o' their Father o' Lichts. A' at ance
I cam to mysel', like oot o'