m. Donal hindered
rather than sped the day. When it came, the earl would have had him go
too, but Donal would not.

"I have done what I can," he said. "It is time he should walk alone."

It was soon evident that the boy would not disgrace him. There is no
certainty as to how deep any teaching may have gone--as to whether it
has reached the issues of life or not, until a youth is left by
himself, and has to choose and refuse companions: the most promising
youths are often but promisers.

With the full concurrence of Miss Graeme, Donal had persuaded mistress
Brookes--easy persuasion where the suggestion was enough!--to keep
house for him. They went together, and together unlocked the door of
Morven House.

Mistress Brookes said the place was in an awful state. There was not
much, to be sure, for the mason to do, but for the carpenter! It had
not been touched for generations! He must go away, and stay away till
she summoned him!

Donal gladly went home to his hills, and took Davie with him. He told
his father and mother, sir Gibbie and his lady, the things that had
befallen him, and every one approved heartily of what he had done. His
mother took his renunciation of the property as a matter of course. All
agreed it should not be spoken of. When they returned to Auchars, sir
Gibbie and lady Galbraith went with them, and staid for some weeks. The
townsfolk said he was but a poor baronet that could not speak mortal
word.

Lord Morven and Miss Graeme had done their best to make the house what
they thought Donal would like. But in the castle they kept for him the
rooms lady Arctura had called her own. There he gathered the books, and
a few other of the more immediately personal possessions of his
wife--her piano for one--upon which he taught himself to play a little;
and thither he betook himself often on holidays, and always on Sunday
evenings. What went on then I leave to the imagination of the reader
who knows that alone one may meet many, sitting still may travel far,
and silent make the universe hear.

Lord Morven kept Larkie for Davie. The last I heard of Davie was that
he was in India, an officer in the army, beloved of his men, and
exercising a most beneficial influence on his regiment. The things he
had learned he had so learned that they went out from him, finding new
ground in which to root and grow. In his day and generation he helped
the coming of the kingdom of truth and righteousness, and so fulfilled
h