ssed by a not altogether real
self. But the root of his objection lay in the teaching of his mother.
The things he had learned of his parents were to him his patent of
nobility, vouchers that he was honourably descended: of his birth he
was as proud as any man. And hence this night he was led to talk of his
father and mother, and the things of his childhood. He told Arctura all
about the life he had led; how at one time he kept cattle in the
fields, at another sheep on the mountains; how it came that he was sent
to college, and all the story of sir Gibbie. The night wore on. Arctura
listened--did nothing but listen; she was enchanted. And it surprised
Donal himself to find how calmly he could now look back upon what had
seemed to threaten an everlasting winter of the soul. It was indeed the
better thing that Ginevra should be Gibbie's wife!

A pause had come, and he had fallen into a brooding memory of things
gone by, when a sudden succession of quick knocks fell on his ear. He
started--strangely affected. Neither of his companions took notice of
it, though it was now past one o'clock. It was like a knocking with
knuckles against the other side of the wall of the room.

"What can that be?" he said, listening for more.

"H'ard ye never that 'afore, maister Grant?" said the housekeeper. "I
hae grown sae used til't my ears hardly tak notice o' 't!"

"What is it?" asked Donal.

"Ay, what is't? Tell ye me that gien ye can!" she returned "It's jist a
chappin', an' God's trowth it's a' I ken aboot the same! It comes, I
believe I'm safe to say, ilka nicht; but I couldna tak my aith upo' 't,
I hae sae entirely drappit peyin' ony attention til't. There's things
aboot mony an auld hoose, maister Grant, 'at'll tak the day o' judgment
to explain them. But sae lang as they keep to their ain side o' the
wa', I dinna see I need trible my heid aboot them. Efter the
experrience I had as a yoong lass, awa' doon in Englan' yon'er, at a
place my auntie got me intil--for she kenned a heap o' gran' fowk
throuw bein' hersel' sae near conneckit wi' them as hoosekeeper i' the
castel here--efter that, I'm sayin,' I wadna need to be that easy
scaret?"

"What was it?" said lady Arctura. "I don't think you ever told me."

"No, my dear lady; I wud never hae thocht o' tellin' ye ony sic story
sae lang as ye was ower yoong no to be frichtit at it; for 'deed I
think they're muckle to blame 'at tells bairns the varra things they're
no fit to hear