"And is not that God?"
The other looked at the hill and at the vast, quiet, gray field of
cloud. "Perhaps!... Let's talk of something else. I am too tired to
argue. I sat up with him last night."
The minister would have preferred to continue to discuss the character
of Deity. He turned heavily. "I was in company, not long ago, with
some gentlemen who were wondering why you stayed on at Glenfernie
House. They said that you had good offers elsewhere--much better than
with a Scots laird."
"I promised Mrs. Jardine that I would stay."
"While the laird lived?"
"No, not just that--though I think that she would have liked me to do
so. But so long as the laird would keep Jamie with him at home."
"What will he do now--Jamie?"
"He has set his heart on the army. He's strong of body, with a kind of
big, happy-go-luckiness--"
A horseman came up behind them. It proved to be Robin Greenlaw, of
Littlefarm. He checked his gray and exchanged greetings with the
minister and the tutor. "How does the laird find himself the day?" he
asked Strickland.
"No better, I think, Mr. Greenlaw."
"I'm sorry. It's the end, I jalouse! Is Mr. Alexander come?"
"We look for him to-morrow."
"The land and the folk'll be blithe to see him--if it was not for the
occasion of his coming! If there's aught a body can do for any at
Glenfernie--?"
"Every one has been as good as gold, Greenlaw.
Pages:
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75