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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/12765-0.txt b/12765-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4f3000 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2449 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12765 *** + +GEORDIE'S TRYST. + + +A TALE OF SCOTTISH LIFE. + + +[Attributed to Mrs. Milne Rae] + +[Illustration: GEORDIE'S HERDING ENDED.] + +GEORDIE'S TRYST. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +GRACE CAMPBELL. + +[Illustration] + + +It was a chilly Scotch spring day. The afternoon sun glistened with +fitful, feeble rays on the windows of the old house of Kirklands, and +unpleasant little gusts of east wind came eddying round its ancient +gables, and sweeping along its broad walks and shrubberies, sending a +chill to the hearts of all the young green things that were struggling +into life. + +On the time-worn steps of the grey mansion there stood a girl, cloaked +and bonneted for a walk, notwithstanding the uninviting weather. + +"It's a fule's errand, I assure ye, Miss Grace, and on such an +afternoon, too. I've been askin' at old Adam the gardener, and he says +there isna one o' the kind left worth mindin' in all the valley o' +Kirklands. So do not go wanderin' on such an errand in this bitter wind, +missy." + +The speaker was an old woman, standing in the doorway, glancing with an +expression of kindly anxiety towards the girl, who leant on one of the +carved griffins of the old stone railing. + +Grace had been looking at the speaker with troubled eyes as she listened +to her remonstrance, and now she said, meditatively, "Does old Adam +really say so, Margery?" Then with a quick gesture she turned to go down +the steps, adding cheerily, "Well, there's no harm in trying, and as for +the wind, that doesn't matter a bit. It's what Walter would call a nice +breezy day. I'm really going, nursie. Shut the door, and keep your old +self warm. I shall be home again by the time aunt has finished her +afternoon's sleep." And Grace turned quickly away, not in the direction +of the sheltered elm avenue, but across the park, by the path which led +most quickly beyond the grounds. Presently she slackened her pace, and +turning for a moment she glanced rather ruefully towards the high walls +of the old garden, as if prudence dictated that she should seek fuller +information there, before she set out on this search, which she had +planned that afternoon. The old nurse's words on the subject seemed to +have sent a chilling gust to her heart, harder to bear than the bitter +spring wind. Old Adam certainly knew the countryside better than anybody +else, she pondered, and he seemed to have given it as his decision that +she would not find her search successful. + +Was it a rare plant growing in the valley that Grace was in search of? +Then, surely, the gardener was right; she should wait till the warm +sunshine came, and the south winds wafted sweet scents about, leading to +where the pleasant flowers grow among the cozy moss. Or did she mean to +go to the green velvety haughs of the winding river to get her +fishing-rod and tackle into working order at the little boat-house, and +try to tempt some unwary trout to eat his last supper, as she and her +brother Walter used to do in sunny summer evenings long ago? + +These had been very pleasant days, and their lingering memories came +hovering round Grace as she stood once again among the familiar haunts, +after an absence of years. Echoes of merry ringing tones, in which her +own mingled, seemed to resound through the wooded paths, where only the +parching wind whistled shrilly to-day, and a boyish voice seemed still +to call impatiently under the lozenge-paned window of the old +school-room, "Gracie, Gracie, are you not done with lessons yet? Do come +out and play." And how dreary "Noel and Chapsal" used to grow all of a +sudden when that invitation came, and with what relentless slowness the +hands of the old clock dragged through the lesson-hour still to run. + +But the quaint old window has the shutters on it now, and the eager face +that used to seek his caged playmate through its bars is looking out on +new lands from his wandering home at sea. The little girl, too, who used +to sit in the dim school-room seems to hear other voices calling to her +this afternoon. + +And while Grace stands hesitating whether, after all, it might be wise +to go into the garden to hear what old Adam has to say before she +proceeded to the high road, we shall try to find what earnest quest sent +her out this afternoon, in spite of her old nurse's remonstrances and +the east wind. + +Grace Campbell's father and mother died when she was very young, and +since then her home had been with her aunt. For the last few years Miss +Hume had been so infirm that she did not feel able to undertake the +journey to Kirklands, a small property in the north of Scotland, which +she inherited from her father. Her winter home was Edinburgh, and Miss +Hume for some years had only ventured on a short journey to the nearest +watering-place, while her country home stood silent and deserted, with +only the ancient gardener and his wife wandering about through the +darkened rooms and the old garden, with its laden fruit-trees and its +flowers run to seed. But, to Grace's great delight, her aunt had +announced some months before that if she felt strong enough for the +journey, she meant to go to Kirklands early in the spring. It seemed as +if in her fading autumnal time she longed to see the familiar woods and +dells of her childhood's home grow green again with returning life. So +the darkened rooms had been opened to the sun again, and on the day +before our story begins, some of the former inmates had taken possession +of them. + +The three years during which Grace had been absent from Kirklands had +proved very eventful to her in many ways. There had been some changes in +her outer life. Walter, her only brother and playmate, had left home to +go to sea. They had only had one passing visit from him since, so +changed in his midshipman's dress, with his broadened shoulders and +bronzed face, and so full of sailor life and talk, that his playmate had +hardly composure of mind to discover till he was gone that the same +loving heart still beat under the blue dress and bright buttons. And +while she thought of him with a new pride, she felt an undercurrent of +sadness in the consciousness that the pleasant threads of daily +intercourse had been broken, and the old childish playfellow had passed +away. + +But as the golden gate of childhood thus closed on Grace Campbell, +another gate opened for her which led to pleasant places. It had, +indeed, been waiting open for her ever since she came into the world, +though she had often passed it by unheeded. But at last there came to +Grace a glimpse of the shining light which still guides the way of +seeking souls to "yonder wicket gate." She began to feel an intense +longing to enter there and begin that new life to which it leads. She +knocked, and found that it was open for her, and entering there she met +the gracious Guide who had beckoned her to come, whispering in the +silence of her heart, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Not long +after Grace had begun to walk in this path, an event happened which +proved to her like the visit to the "Interpreter's House" in the +Pilgrim's story; but in order to explain its full eventfulness, we must +go back to tell of earlier days in her aunt's home. + +On Sunday mornings Grace usually drove with her aunt to church in +decorous state. When Walter was at home he made one of the carriage +party, though generally under protest, declaring that it would be "ever +so much jollier to walk than to be bowled along in that horrid old +rumble," as he used irreverently to designate his aunt's rather antique +chariot. When they arrived at church, the children followed their aunt's +slow steps to one of the pews in the gallery, where Miss Hume used to +take the precautionary measure of separating them by sending Grace to +the top of the seat, and placing herself between the vivacious Walter +and his playmate. Notwithstanding this precaution, they generally +contrived to find comfortable recreative resources during the service, +bringing all their inventive energy to bear on creating new diversions +as each Sunday came round. There was always their Aunt Hume's fur cloak +to stroke the wrong way, if there was nothing more diverting within +reach; had it only been the cat, whose sentiments regarding a like +treatment of her fur were too well known to Walter, he felt that the +pleasure would have been greater. Sometimes, indeed, the amusements were +of a strictly mental nature, conducted in the "chambers of imagery." +Miss Hume would feel gratified by the stillness of posture and the +earnest gaze in her nephew's eyes. They were certainly not fixed +directly on the preacher, but surely the boy must be listening, or he +would never be so quiet. Grace, however, was in the secret, and knew +better. Walter had confided to her that he had got such "a jolly +make-believe" to think about in church. The great chandelier which hung +from the centre of the church ceiling, with its poles, and chains, and +brackets, was transformed in his imagination to a ship's mast and +rigging, where he climbed and swung, and performed marvellous feats, +also in imagination, be it understood. And so it happened that Grace +could guess where her brother's thoughts were when he sat gazing +dreamily at the huge gilded chandelier of the city church. + +Other imaginings had sometimes grown round it for Grace when it was all +lit up in the short winter days at afternoon service, and queer lights +and shadows fell on the gilded cherubs that decorated it, till their +wings seemed to move and hover over the heads of the congregation. To +Grace's childish mind they had been the embodiment of angels ever since +she could remember; and even long after childish things were put away +there remained a strange link between her conception of angelic beings +and those burnished cherubs whose serene, shining faces looked down +benignantly over the drowsy congregation on dark winter afternoons. + +But all these imaginings certainly came under the catalogue of +"wandering thoughts," from which the old minister always prayed at the +opening of the service that they might be delivered. So it is to be +feared that the sermon had not even the chance of the wayside seed in +the parable of sinking into the children's hearts. The words of her +aunt's old minister had as yet proved little more than an outside sound +to Grace, though she was in the habit of listening more observantly than +her brother. But there came a day when, amidst those familiar +surroundings, with the molten cherubs looking serenely down on her, she +heard words which made her heart burn within her, and kindled a flame +which lasted as long as life. + +It was on a Sunday afternoon in November, not long after Walter left. +Miss Hume was ailing, and unable to go to church, so it was arranged +that Margery should accompany Grace. The old nurse attended the same +church, and Grace had been in the habit of going under her wing when her +aunt was obliged to remain at home. The walk to church through the +crowded streets was a pleasant change, and Grace was in high spirits +when she ensconced herself at the top of Margery's seat--which was a +much better observatory than her aunt's pew--where every thing could be +seen that was interesting and amusing within the four walls. Besides, +there were small amenities connected with a seat in nurse's pew which +had great attractions for Grace when she was a little girl, and had +still a lingering charm for her. In the pew behind there sat a worthy +couple, friends of Margery, who exchanged friendly salutations with her +on Sunday, always including a kindly nod of recognition to her charges +if they happened to be with her. Then, at a certain juncture in the +service, the worthy tinsmith, for that was his calling, would hand +across the book-board his ancient silver snuff-box, of the contents of +which he himself partook freely and noisily. Of course, Margery only +used it politely, after the manner of a scent-bottle; and then Grace +came in for her turn of it, with a warning glance from nurse to beware +of staining her hat-strings, or any other serious effects from the +odorous powder. If Walter happened to be invited to enjoy the +privilege, he always contrived to secrete a deposit of the snuff between +his finger and thumb, being most anxious to imitate the tinsmith's +accomplishment. He was, however, afraid to make his first essay in +church, in case of sneezing symptoms, and before he had a chance of a +quiet moment to make the experiment when they left the pew, he used +generally to be caught by Margery, and summoned to put on his glove like +a gentleman, and any resistance was sure to end in the discovery and +loss of the precious pinch of snuff. Then the tinsmith's wife had also +her own congenial resources for comfort during service, which she +delighted to share with her neighbours. Grace used to receive a little +tap on the shoulder, and, on looking round, a box of peppermint lozenges +lay waiting her in the old woman's fat palm. These were very homely +little interchanges of friendship, but they made part of the happy +childish world to Grace, and years after, when the old pew knew her no +more, and she asked admittance to it as a stranger, she glanced round in +the vain hope of catching a glimpse of the broad, shining, kindly faces +of the old couple, feeling that to see them in their place would bring +back many pleasanter bygone associations than snuff and peppermint +lozenges. + +On this Sunday afternoon Grace perceived that there was something out of +the ordinary routine in prospect. The pews were filling more quickly +than they usually did. Strangers were gathering in the passage, and a +general flutter of excitement and expectation seemed everywhere to +prevail. + +"What is going to happen, I wonder, Margery?" whispered Grace, +impatiently; and presently the tinsmith leant across the book-board and +kindly volunteered the information that they were going to have a +"strange minister the night, and a special collection for some +new-fangled thing." + +And then Grace turned towards the pulpit in time to see the "strange +minister," who had just entered it. He was a tall man, of a stately +though easy presence, with grace and life in every gesture. As she +looked at him Grace Campbell was reminded of an historical scene, a +picture of which hung in the old hall at Kirklands, of a mixed group of +Cavaliers and Puritans. This preacher seemed in his appearance curiously +to combine the varied characteristics of both the types of men in these +portraits. That graceful flexibility of tone and movement, the high +forehead and waving locks, surely belong to the gallant old Cavalier, +but there is something of the stern Puritan too. The resoluteness of +the firm though mobile mouth betokens a strength of moral purpose, which +does not belong to the caste of the mere court gentleman; about those +delicately-cut nostrils there dwells a possibility of quivering +indignation, and in the eyes that are looking broodingly down on the +congregation true pathos and keen humour are strangely blended. + +Presently the deep, flexible voice, which had the soul of music in its +tones, re-echoed through the church as he called the people to worship +God, and read some verses of an old psalm. Familiar as the words were to +Grace, they seemed as he read them to have a new meaning, to be no +longer seven verses with queer, out-of-the-way expressions, that had +cost her trouble to learn as a Sunday evening's task, but a beautiful, +real prayer to a God that was listening, and would hear, as the "strange +minister's" voice pealed out,-- + + "Lord, bless and pity us, + Shine on us with Thy face; + That the earth Thy way, and nations all + May know Thy saving grace." + +And when the sermon came, and the preacher began to talk in thrilling +words of that saving health which the Great Healer of souls had died to +bring to all nations, Grace felt the reality of those unseen, eternal +things of which he spoke as she had never done before. Then there were +interspersed with those faithful, burning words for God beautiful +illustrations from nature, which fascinated the little girl's +imagination, as she sat gazing, not at the gilded cherubs to-night, but +on the benignant, earnest face of the speaker. He surely must have been +a sailor, or he could never have known so well what a storm at sea was +like, she thought, as she listened, spell-bound, feeling as if she was +looking out on the angry sea, with the helpless wrecking ships tossing +upon the waves; but then in another moment he took them into the thick +of some ancient battle, where the brave-hearted "nobly conquering lived +or conquering died;" or it was to some fair, pastoral scene, and then +the preacher seemed to know so well all the delights of heathery hills +and pleasant mossy glades, that Grace thought he certainly must have +been at Kirklands and wandered among its woods and braes. And into each +of his wonderful photographs he wove many holy, stirring thoughts of +God, and of those "ways" of his that may be known upon the earth, of +which they had been singing. + +Presently the preacher began to talk of what the worthy tinsmith had +called the "new-fangled scheme," for which, he said, he stood there to +plead that evening. He had come to ask help for the little outcast city +children. It was before the days when School Boards were born or thought +of that this gallant-hearted man sought to move the feelings and rouse +the consciences of men on behalf of those who seemed to have no helper. +It was for aid to establish schools for those destitute children, where +they might be clothed and fed as well as educated, that he went on to +plead. Grace sat entranced, listening to the preacher, as with the +"flaming swords of living words, he fought for the poor and weak." Never +before in the course of her narrow, sheltered child-life had she, even +in imagination, been brought face to face with the manifold wants and +woes of her poorer brothers and sisters, or understood the service to +which the Son of Man summons all his faithful followers: "Is it not to +deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast +out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and +that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" + +It seemed to Grace, when the preacher had ceased, as if a new world of +loving work and of duty stretched before her; for could she not become +one of that band whom the preacher called in such thrilling words to +enroll themselves in this service of love? + +When the eloquent voice paused, and the congregation began to sing +again, Grace still felt the words sounding like trumpet-notes in her +heart. How she longed to ask the minister to take her to those courts +and alleys, and to tell her in what way she might best help those +neglected ones. How many plans coursed through her eager little brain +for their succour. But the preacher had said he wanted money for their +help; a collection was to be made before they left the church. + +Grace's store of pocket-money was slender, and, moreover, was not in her +pocket now. How gladly would she have emptied her little silken purse, +if she had only had it with her; but, alas! it lay uselessly in her +drawer at home. Her conventional penny had been put into the plate at +the door, as she came into church, and Grace thought ruefully that she +had nothing--nothing to give to help these poor forsaken ones, whose +hard lot had so touched her heart. Just then, however, she happened to +raise her hand to her neck, and was reminded of an ornament which she +always wore, the only precious thing she possessed. It was an +old-fashioned locket, with rows of pearls round it, and in the centre a +baby lock of her own hair, which her mother used to wear. Her Aunt Hume +had some time ago taken it out of the old jewel-case which awaited her +when Grace was old enough to be trusted with its contents, and given it +to her to wear, so it was her very own. But was not this a worthy +occasion for bringing of one's best and most precious things? Might not +this pearl locket help to bring some little outcast waif into paths of +pleasantness and peace? Yes, the locket should be given to the special +collection, Grace resolved; but it might not be wise, to divulge the +intention to Margery, who had already replied, when she was asked by +Grace if she could lend her any money, that nobody would expect a +collection from such a young lady. + +When the crowd moved away from the passage, and began to scatter, +Margery and her charge left the old pew in the highest gallery and +prepared to go down the great staircase which led to the entrance door. +Near the door there stood two elders of the church, with metal plates in +their hands, waiting for the offerings of the congregation. Grace had +been holding hers tightly in her hand, having untied it from her neck +and slipped the ribbon in her pocket, and now she laid it gently among +the silver, and the pennies, and the Scotch bank-notes, hoping that it +might slip unobserved between one of the crumpled notes, and so escape +the detective glance of Margery's quick eyes. But her hope was vain. +Nurse caught sight of the pearls gleaming pure and white among the other +offerings: "Missy, what have you done? Your locket! your mamma's +beautiful pearl locket! Did I ever see the like? It's a mistake, sir. +Miss Campbell could not have meant it," she said, turning to the elder, +with her hand raised to recapture it. + +"Stop, Margery, it is not a mistake; I meant to put it there," replied +Grace in an eager whisper, as she pulled her nurse's shawl, glancing +timidly at the elder, as if she feared he was going to conspire with +Margery, and that, after all, her offering would be rejected. + +"Missy! are you mad? What will your aunt say? Really, sir, will you be +so kind?"--and Margery did not finish her sentence, but looked piteously +at the elder, who was glancing at the little girl with a kindly, though +questioning expression in his eyes, saying presently: + +"You may have your locket back, if you wish it, my child. Perhaps you +have given it hastily, and may regret it afterwards, and we would not +like to have your jewel in these circumstances." + +"Oh, thank you, sir," Margery was beginning to say, in a grateful tone, +when Grace interrupted her. + +"No, please don't, sir, I will not take it back. It was my very own, and +I have given it to God, to use for these poor, sad boys and girls," +Grace added, in a tremulous tone. + +Then the old elder looked at Margery, and said, "My friend, I cannot +help you further. Neither you nor I have anything to do with this gift; +it is between the giver and the Receiver." + +There was something solemn in his tone which kept the still indignant +Margery from saying more, and she prepared to move away with her charge. +But, as she turned to go, she caught a glimpse of her acquaintance the +tinsmith, who was in the act of dropping into the plate a crumpled +Scotch bank-note, which he held in his broad palm. + +"Bless me, they're all going daft together," muttered Margery, with +uplifted hands, as she hurried away. "It was a very good discourse, no +doubt, but to think of folk strippin' themselves like that--a pun'-note, +forsooth, near the half of the week's work; the man's gone clean +demented." + +But the tinsmith's serene, smiling face showed no sign of any aberration +of intellect, and Margery took Grace's hand, and hurried her through the +crowd, resolved that she should not, for another instant, stand by and +countenance such reckless expenditure. + +Grace was conscious that her old nurse was still possessed by a strong +feeling of disapproval regarding her donation, so she rather avoided +conversation; besides, she had a great deal to think about as she walked +along the crowded lamp-lit streets by Margery's side. + +At last they reached the quiet square where Miss Hume lived, and as they +crossed the grass-grown pavement and went up the steps to the house, +Grace glanced up to the curtained window of her aunt's sitting-room, and +suddenly remembered, with a feeling of discomfort, that Miss Hume must +presently be told of the destination of her locket; if not by herself, +certainly by Margery, who had just heaved a heavy sigh, and was +evidently girding herself up for the painful duty of narrating the +strange behaviour of her charge. + +"Now, Margery, I'm going to auntie, to tell her about the locket, this +very minute, so you need not trouble about it," said Grace, as she ran +quickly upstairs to her aunt's room and closed the door. + +Margery never knew exactly what passed, nor how Miss Hume's +well-regulated mind was ever reconciled to such an impulsive act on the +part of her niece. But, as she sat at her usual post by the old lady +next day, while she took her afternoon's rest, Miss Hume said rather +unexpectedly, when Margery concluded she was asleep, "Margery, you +remember my sister? Does it not strike you that Miss Campbell is getting +very like her mother? These children are a great responsibility to me; I +wish their mother had been spared," she added, rather irrelevantly, it +seemed to Margery, and then presently she fell asleep without any +reference to the locket question. + +But that night, when Grace was going to bed, she told her old nurse that +her aunt had promised that when they went back to Kirklands again she +might try to find some little boys and girls to teach, and that she +would allow her to have one of the old rooms for her class. She did not +tell how eagerly she had asked that, in the meantime, she might be +allowed to try and help the neglected city children, to whose +necessities she had been awakened by such thrilling words that day, +though Miss Hume had thought it wise to restrain her impatience. But +out of that evening's events had grown the cherished plan which sent +Grace on such a chilly afternoon among the woods and braes of Kirklands +to seek any boy or girl who might need her help and friendship. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SEARCH + + +Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, left the management of Kirklands entirely in +the hands of her business agent. Mr. Graham met the tenants, gathered +the rents, arranged the leases, and directed the improvements without +even a nominal interference on her part. And certainly he +conscientiously performed these duties with a view to his client's +interests. It may be wondered that Miss Hume did not take a more +personal interest in her tenants, but various things had contributed to +this state of matters. Indeed, she was now so infirm that it would have +been difficult for her to take any active interest in things around her, +especially as it had not been the habit of her earlier years to do so. + +It was her younger sister, Grace's mother, who used to know all the +dwellers in the valley so well that her white pony could calculate the +distance to the pleasant farmyard at which he would get his next +mouthful of crisp corn; or the muirland cottage, with its delicious bit +of turf, where he would presently graze, as he waited for his young +mistress, while she talked to the inmates. But if the little girl with +her white pony could have come back again to Kirklands, they would have +missed many a familiar face, and searched in vain for many a cottage. +The pleasant little thatched dwellings, with velvety tufts of moss +studding the roof, and pretty creepers climbing till they mingled with +the brown thatch, telling of the inmates' loving fingers, were all swept +away now, and in the place that once knew them, stretched trim drills of +turnips, fenced by grim stone walls, to which time had not yet given a +moss-covered beauty. + +Mr. Graham had thought it wise for his client's interests to remove +those little "crofts," and merge their kailyards into productive fields; +so the dwellers in the greensward cottages had to wander townwards to +seek shelter and work in city courts and alleys. The land was now +divided into a few farms, on which stood imposing-looking houses, with +knockers and latch-keys to the doors, where the little girl and the +white pony would never have ventured to ask admittance, or cared to gain +it--where "nobody wanted nothin' from nobody," old Adam, the gardener, +had assured Margery, when she made anxious inquiries concerning the +prospect of Grace's search, and who hoped that this circumstantial +information might persuade her young mistress to abandon it. + +The prophecy that it was "a fule's errand" rang unpleasantly in Grace's +ear, as she crossed the park and climbed the rustic stiles which led to +the high road. It was true she knew that during the last three years +there had been many a "clearance" at Kirklands, for she remembered +having overheard Mr. Graham congratulating her aunt on the larger +returns owing to these improvements. But surely, she thought, there +might still be found some little cottages like those to which she heard +her mamma was so fond of going when she was a girl. Walter and she used +certainly, she remembered, often to see children with bare, dust-stained +feet on the road, when they happened to go beyond the grounds on a +fishing expedition, or down with their aunt through her lands; but her +brother had been an all-sufficient playmate, and Grace's interest in the +peasant children did not extend beyond a glance of curiosity. But now +how gladly would she gather a little company of them to tell them that +old sweet story, which had come to her own heart with such new strange +sweetness, during these winter days, though she had heard it ever since +she could remember. Grace hurried eagerly along the high road, looking +at every turn for traces of any lowly wayside dwellings. There used to +be a little clump of cottages here, she thought, as she stopped at a +bend of the road where there were traces of recent demolitions, and a +great field of green corn was evidently going to reclaim the waste +place, and presently swallow it up. Behind where the vanished cottages +had stood there stretched a glade of birch-trees, with their low twisted +stems rising from little knolls of turf so mossy and steep, that the +drills of turnips and potatoes could not possibly be ranged there +without destroying their symmetry, even though the crooked birch-trees +were to be swept away. + +Grace wandered among the budding trees, and through the soft springy +turf that was growing green again in spite of the bitter spring winds, +but she found no little native lurking among the birches, and was +disappointed to come to the other side of the wood much more quickly +than she expected, without the _détour_ being of any practical use. + +The turf sloped away to a little stream that went singing cheerily over +sparkling pebbles, bubbling and foaming round the base of grey lichened +rocks, that reared their heads above the water, as if in angry +remonstrance at their daring to interfere with its progress. On the +opposite bank there stretched a bit of muirland pasture, studded with +little knolls of heather, growing green, in preparation for its richer +autumn tints. The pale spring sunlight began to grow more mellow in its +light at this afternoon hour; it glinted on the little gurgling stream, +lighted up the feathery birch glade, and lay in golden patches on the +opposite bank, where Grace noticed some cattle begin to gather on the +heathery knolls, as if they had come to enjoy the last hour of bright +sunshine. Perhaps some little cottages may be sheltered behind those +hillocks, Grace thought; and she began to examine how the grey rocks lay +among the water, and whether she could possibly find dry footing across +the stream. Presently she came upon a smooth row of stones, that were +evidently used as a thoroughfare. She had already begun to cross them, +keeping her eye cautiously fixed on the stepping-stones as she went +along, when she was startled by a voice which sounded close beside her. +On glancing round she saw on the opposite bank a boy standing with a +huge twisted cudgel in his hand, brandishing it in a warlike attitude. +He seemed to have suddenly appeared round one of the hillocks, and was +now shouting excitedly, in his rough northern dialect, as he waved his +stick: + +"Hold back, mem; hold back, I tell ye. Blackie is in one o' his ill +moods the day, and he's no safe. Dinna come a foot farther." + +Grace stood bewildered, balancing herself on the stepping-stones; the +apparition was so sudden that it almost took away her breath, and the +commands were so peremptory that she did not dare to disregard them by +going forward; but it seemed very hard to beat an ignominious retreat, +for here seemed to be just what she was in search of--a boy as +neglected-looking as any that were to be seen in the courts and alleys +of Edinburgh; of the very type which old Adam declared there was not one +to be found in all the lands of Kirklands. His head was bare, and his +flaxen hair so bleached by the sun that it looked quite white against +his bronzed face. He looked at Grace with a grave interest in his large +blue eyes, as if he would like to know a little more; but he still +brandished his cudgel before her, and shouted resolutely: + +"Hold back, or Blackie will be at ye." + +"But who is Blackie?" asked Grace, with a gasp, looking furtively round +in the direction of the birch wood, in case the said Blackie might be +approaching from behind. + +"Who's Blackie!" said the boy, repeating the question, as if to hold up +to ridicule the absurd ignorance which it implied. "Do ye no ken that +Blackie is Gowrie's bull--the ill-natertest bull in a' the +country-side?" + +"And what have you to do with Blackie?" asked Grace, glancing across to +the hillocks, where some cattle grazed inoffensively, in search of the +formidable animal. + +"I herd him--I'm Gowrie's herd-laddie. They're all terrible easy-managed +beasts but him, and he's full o' ill tricks. He can't bear woman-folks," +added the boy, with a slight mischievous twinkle in his eye; for he felt +more at his ease now, having assured himself that Blackie was much too +intent on some sweet blades of grass to give any trouble at that moment. + +"Gowrie! that's the old farm down in the hollow there, isn't it? And how +long have you been herding?" asked Grace, who still stood on the +stepping-stones, and pursued the conversation with the noisy little +stream babbling round her. + +"I was hired to Gowrie two year come Marti'mas, and afore that I herded +some sheep on the hill yonder. We had a hut all to oursels. I slept wi' +them a' night, and liked them terrible weel, a hantle better than the +cattle," and his eye wandered regretfully to a bleak mountain slope, +which had evidently pleasant associations for the little herd-boy. + +"Did you ever go to school?" asked Grace, anxious to introduce her +subject, for she thought she would like this boy for a scholar. + +"Ay, did I once, when I was a wee laddie. I was in the 'Third Primer,' +and could read pretty big words," and he fumbled in his jacket-pocket +for the collection of dog-eared leaves which represented his store of +learning. + +"Of course you can't go to school now on week days, when you have to +watch the cows; but perhaps you go to Sunday-school?" Grace asked; and +will it make her desire to do good appear very narrow and small, if it +must be confessed that she hoped to hear that he did not go to any? Her +mind was soon set at rest, however, for he presently replied: + +"The school at the kirk, ye mean? No; granny's dreadful deaf, and we +don't go to the kirk. I belong to Gowrie a' the week, but I'm granny's +on Sabbath; there's aye a deal to do, brakin' sticks and mendin' up +things, ye see." + +"And you really don't go to a Sunday-school?" exclaimed Grace, hardly +able to restrain her satisfaction at this piece of information. "But, +by-the-by, I have never asked your name. I should like to hear it, +because I hope we are going to be friends." + +"They call me Geordie Baxter," he replied, as he ran to check the +wanderings of one of the cows, while Grace stood watching him, as she +pondered how she might best frame an invitation asking him to be her +scholar. He seemed so manly and independent, though he was so young; +and, somehow, it was all so different from how she had planned her +finding of scholars. She had been looking for a cottage where the +tattered children might be crawling about the doorstep, making mudpies +and quarrelling with each other; and then she thought she would knock at +the door, after she had spoken to them for a little, and ask their +mother if she might have them to teach on Sunday. But this boy, ignorant +and neglected as he seemed to be, had certainly a manly dignity which +made Grace's invitations more difficult than she expected; though, after +all, he could only spell words of one syllable, and he went neither to +school nor to church. Surely he was the sort of scholar she had been in +search of. So when he returned to his former position opposite the +stepping-stones, after having admonished the straying cow-- + +"Well, Geordie, I am going to ask you if you will come to Kirklands, +where I live, on Sunday afternoons; and since you do not go to any +school, I can read a little to you, and perhaps help you to learn +something?" said Grace, not venturing to be more explicit on what she +wished to teach. "Do you think you would like to come?" + +"Ay, would I," he replied, eagerly. "I'm terrible anxious to learn to +read the long words without spellin' them." And then he stopped and +looked hesitatingly at Grace. "Would ye take Jean, I wonder?" he said, +coming a few steps on the stones in his eagerness. "She's my sister, and +a good bit littler than me, and she can't read any, but I'm thinkin' she +could learn," he added, in a sanguine tone. + +"Oh yes, certainly; I shall be so happy if you will bring your sister," +replied Grace, looking radiant, for she had; ust been thinking that +though Geordie was certainly a very valuable unit, he could hardly, in +his own person, make the "Sunday class" on which she had set her heart. + +"But I thought ye couldn't bear poor folk at Kirklands," said Geordie, +reflectively, glancing at Grace, after he had pondered over the +invitation. "Granny's aye frightened they will be takin' our housie from +us, as they have done from so many puir folk;" and then the boy stopped +suddenly, and a deep red flush rose under his bronzed cheek as he +remembered that he must be speaking to one of those same "Kirklands +folk." + +"Oh, your grandmother needn't be afraid of that. I am sure my aunt would +not wish to take away her home," replied Grace, hurriedly, also flushing +with vexation, and resolving that she would certainly listen with more +interest, if she happened to be present at the next interview, to Mr. +Graham's narratives concerning the improvements, seeing that they seemed +to involve the improving away of the natives off the face of the +country. + +Just then the sound of a horn came across the heather, and Geordie +started off, saying, "There's Gowrie's horn sounding; I must away and +gather home the kye." And he darted off across the hillocks in search of +his scattered charges, giving a succession of whoops and shrieks as he +brandished his cudgel and whirled about in the discharge of his duty, +quite ignoring Grace, who still stood on the stepping-stones, feeling +rather sorry that the interview had terminated so abruptly, for she +remembered a great many questions she would like to have asked. + +Presently Geordie, by dint of his exertions, managed to arrange the +cattle, with the formidable Blackie in front, in quite an orderly +procession, and he now prepared to move towards the farm, whose white +gables were visible from the pasture. He never looked back at Grace, or +gave any parting sign of recognition of her presence, and she began to +fear that perhaps after all he might forget about her invitation and +fail to appear on Sunday. + +"You won't forget to come to Kirklands on Sunday afternoon, Geordie?" +she called after him, trying to raise her voice above the noisy little +stream. + +"Didna I say that I would come and bring Jean? and I aye keep my +trysts," he shouted back again, with a look of indignant astonishment +that she should have imagined him capable of forgetting or failing to +keep his promise; and then he trudged away cheerily, swinging his stick, +more full of the idea of this "tryst" than Grace could guess, though his +mind dwelt chiefly on the thought of what a grand thing it would be for +little Jean to get a chance of learning to read. He was painfully +conscious that he had signally failed in his attempts to teach her, and +he was the only teacher she had ever had. + +In this little, unkempt, sun-bleached herd-boy there dwelt a very +tender, chivalrous heart, and on his little sister Jean all his wealth, +of affection had as yet been bestowed. Never did faithful knight serve +his lady-love more devotedly than Geordie had this little brown maiden, +since her earliest babyhood. + +They were orphans, and ever since they could remember their home had +been with their grandmother, a frail, dreamy old woman, so deaf that the +most active and varied gesticulation was the only means of conveying to +her the remotest idea of what one wished to say. Geordie, indeed, was +the only person sufficiently careless of his lungs to attempt the medium +of speech, and then his conversation was pitched in the same key as when +he performed his herding functions. + +To the little Jean, Geordie had been playmate and protector in one, her +absolute slave from the time she sat on her old grandmother's knee, and, +tiring of that position, lisped out, "Deordie, Deordie," holding out her +little brown hands so that he might take her, and then they would sit +together on the earthen floor of the cottage, and the gipsy locks would +intermingle with Geordie's flaxen hair, which yielded meekly to as rough +treatment from the little brown fingers as ever hapless terrier of the +nursery was called on to undergo. But Geordie's sun-bleached locks had +always been at her service, and his head and hands too; though it was +not much that the little herd-boy had been able to do for his sister. +Often as he lay on the heather, watching his cows, he smiled with +delight as he thought of the time when he should be promoted into a farm +servant, with wages enough to send Jean to school, and to buy her a +pretty print dress, all dotted with blue stars, like the one Mistress +Gowrie wore. As yet all his earnings had gone to pay board to his +grandmother, and for present necessities in the shape of shoes and +corduroys. He had in one of his pockets a little chamois bag, containing +a few shillings, which he always carried about with him; and it was one +of his recreations to spread them on one of the flat, grey stones and +count the silver pieces as they glittered in the sun. He knew well what +he meant to do with them when the pile grew large enough; but its growth +was a very slow one, and required much self-denial on Geordie's part, +seeing that the component parts of each shilling were generally gathered +in a stray penny now and then, which he earned by holding a market-going +farmer's cob; and if, by a rare chance, a sixpence happened to be the +unexpected result of one such service, then Geordie felt that he was +really getting rich, and would soon be able to buy what he had wished +for so long. It was not anything for himself, or even for Jean, as +might have been expected. Somebody had once told him that if his +grandmother only had an ear-trumpet she would be able to hear people +when they spoke to her. Geordie had the vaguest idea of what such an +instrument might be like, but decided that probably it bore some +resemblance in size or sound to the horn that summoned his cows home; +and having ascertained how much money it would cost, he resolved that he +would buy one for his granny whenever he could save the sum. + +The boy's heart was full of tender pity for the old deaf woman, with her +weird helpless ways, at whose side he had grown since his infancy; +though she could hardly have been said to "bring him up," for Granny +Baxter had been shiftless and unlovable when she was in possession of +her faculties, and her character had not improved under her trying +infirmities. Her grandson, however, always treated her with a tender +patience which no querulousness of the old woman could weary. Not so +little Jean. Only once she could remember her brother looking very grave +and grieved, and it was one day when she had refused to do something +that the old woman wanted, and put her in a white heat of passion by her +rebellion. Having escaped beyond the reach of her poor granny's +tottering feet, and, finding her way to the field where Geordie was +herding, she began to narrate her story in triumph, when her brother's +grave silence made her feel how naughty she had been. After that day +little Jean always tried to "mind" granny more, though she never +attained to the same unwearied service as Geordie. + +That Jean's education was being sadly neglected her brother felt +painfully, and he had made various efforts to teach her the little he +knew himself; but the knowledge contained in the "Third Primer" barely +sufficed for teaching purposes, and Geordie found, moreover, that the +little Jean was by no means an apt scholar. Indeed, the most hopeless +confusion continued to prevail in her small mind concerning the letters +of the alphabet, notwithstanding all his efforts. The natural history +lessons, however, had been a greater success; she had learnt from +Geordie the names of most trees and flowers that grew wild in the +valley, and knew the difference between a wagtail and a wren, which some +people who know their alphabet do not. Geordie sometimes thought that it +might be nice for Jean to go to the kirk, for it was from Jean's point +of view that he looked at most things in life. But then there was the +insuperable difficulty about Sunday clothes, so the idea had always +been given up after due consideration each time it presented itself to +his mind, and the church-going was reserved for that golden period when +Jean would be clothed in the blue-starred print frock, and he should +have a suit of Sunday clothes. Perhaps, with the encouragement of the +ear-trumpet, even frail granny might be conducted to church, Geordie +thought, hopefully, for he knew that she had the essentials of +church-going, as they presented themselves to his mind, stowed away in +an ancient chest-of-drawers where she kept her valuables. + +But in the interval, and while these happy days of good wages and +schooling for Jean and Sunday clothes still lay in the distance, this +invitation to go to the house of Kirklands to be taught on Sunday +afternoon was very delightful indeed, Geordie thought, as he trudged +home with dust-stained feet, carrying his shoes slung across his +shoulders, to pay an evening visit to his granny, eager to tell Jean +about the interview with the young lady and of the invitation. He knew +the news would be welcome to his grandmother also, for it had been one +of her standing grievances ever since he could remember that next rent +day Mr. Graham would be sure to give her notice to quit. And, indeed, if +the truth must be told, it was owing to Geordie's own useful and +reliable qualities that the little household had not long ago been told +to move on, and to make way for more money-making tenants. Farmer Gowrie +was one of the oldest residents on the estate, and he had frequently, as +he used daily to inform Granny Baxter, put in a good word for her with +the agent, and begged him to let the little cottage stand during the old +woman's lifetime; for where could he get a boy like Geordie at the same +money, as he remarked to his wife, so handy, so careful, so fearless of +Blackie, "the ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," who, under +his guidance, was meek as a lamb. + +But notwithstanding Gowrie's assurances that their home was safe, +Geordie knew that his grandmother would be very much pleased to know, if +he could make her understand the fact, that he had, that afternoon, +talked with a lady from the "big hoose" itself. She seemed kind and +"pleasant-spoken," and not at all the terrible ogre that Geordie always +imagined the lady of Kirklands to be. As the rent day came round, and he +went to the inn-parlour where the agent sat to receive the rents, he +used to lay the money on the table and then turn away quickly with a +beating heart, in case granny's oft-repeated prophecy should prove +true, and the dreaded notice to quit should really be coming at last. +But instead of any such terrible communication, after he had stood the +penetrating glance of the bald-headed factor, a kindly nod used +generally to follow, and presently Geordie was galloping home at the top +of his speed to assure his grandmother that there was no word of "a +flittin'" this Martinmas. And now he felt that their home was more +secure than ever, for had not the lady said that she was sure nobody +wanted to turn them out of it? + +Geordie's chief source of delight during his walk home was the thought +of what a pleasant outing the walk to Kirklands would be for Jean, for +there were many things within the lodge gates that she had heard of and +would like to see. Perhaps they might get a glimpse of the walled-in +garden as they passed, which Geordie had heard of from his master, who +was a friend of old Adam the gardener, and had been sometimes invited by +him to take a turn through his domain. But the happiest thought of all +was, that, perhaps, Jean might get more interested in her alphabet when +the young lady taught her. He resolved that he must not forget to take +the "Third Primer" with him, for it was possible that the young lady +might not exactly understand what they needed to be taught; for, after +all, she did not look so very old, he pondered, as he compared her +appearance with Mistress Gowrie's, the one grown specimen of the female +sex, except his grandmother, who made up his small world. + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FIRST SCHOLARS + + +Grace Campbell hurried home with not less eagerness than her future +scholar, to tell the news of her expedition at Kirklands. Her Aunt Hume +was only half awakened from her afternoon nap, and glanced with dropsy +eyes at the glowing face, as she listened to her niece's description of +how and where she had found Geordie. + +"Baxter! I do not remember that name; I must ask Mr. Graham who they +are, and all about them, nest time he comes," said Miss Hume, after +Grace had finished her eager narration, and stood twirling her hat in +her hand, hesitating whether she should tell her aunt Geordie's +impression of what sort of people the "Kirklands folk" were; but just at +that moment tea was brought, and on reflection, Grace resolved that, for +the present, it would be wise to keep silent on that point. Two days +passed quickly, and Sunday afternoon found Grace hovering about the +door of the little room which her aunt had given to her for her class. +She had been seated in state at a table which Margery had placed for +her, at what the old nurse considered a suitable angle of distance from +the form arranged for the scholars; but Grace began to think it felt +rather formidable to be waiting seated there, so she gathered up the +books again, and wandered between the avenue and the little room, +waiting with impatience the arrival of her first scholars, and having a +vague fear lest they might not be forthcoming after all. + +Meanwhile, Geordie and his little sister were toiling along the dusty +highway in an excited, expectant state of mind. The shady elm avenue was +a refreshing change after the hot white turnpike road. Geordie looked +keenly about him, noting all the well-kept walks and shrubberies, among +which he saw many plants that were not natives of the valley, and +thought he should like, sometime, to examine them more closely. + +At last they came in sight of the grey gables of the old mansion, and +little Jean grasped her brother's hand more closely, and looked up with +a frightened glance at the many windows, which seemed to her like so +many great eyes all staring at her. She began to wish that she was +safe back in her granny's cottage again, but consoled herself by +thinking that as long as she had hold of Geordie's hand nothing very +dreadful could possibly happen. Geordie, too, was somewhat overawed by +the nearer view of the "big hoose," which certainly seemed much more +formidable in its dimensions than it did from the moorland, where he +used to get a glimpse of it while he watched the sheep, and then it +looked no larger than the grey cairn which he made his watch-tower, but +now it seemed to frown above him, and the windows, too, began to create +uncomfortable sensations in his mind as well as Jean's. + +With the sight of his friend of the stepping-stones, his flagging +courage returned, for had he not conversed with her on his own domain, +and been invited by her to pay this visit? + +"This is Jean," he said, immediately looking up at Grace with his frank +smile, as he gave his sister a little push forward. + +"I have kept my tryst, ye see. You thought, maybe, I wouldna mind," he +added, smiling again at the absurdity of the idea that he should forget +such an eventful engagement. "I am so very glad to see you, Geordie, +and Jean, too. I must say I was a little afraid that you might forget +to come," added Grace, quite in a flutter of delight over the arrival of +her scholars, which they little dreamt of. Then she happened to glance +at Jean, who stood clutching her brother's corduroys in a very +frightened attitude, and Grace remembered that this was also a new +experience for the scholars, and perhaps they, too, might be suffering +from the nervousness which had been following her from the lawn to the +class-room for the last hour as she waited for them. + +Putting out her hand to Jean, she said, in an encouraging tone, "Come, I +dare say you must be tired after your walk in this hot afternoon. We +shall go to a little room that my aunt has given us to sit in, and see +if we cannot find something nice to read and learn," and Grace led the +way up the old steps and across the hall, then through what appeared to +the children quite a bewildering maze of dark passages, so dim and +sombre after the bright sunshine, that Grace overheard Jean say in an, +abrupt whisper, which was instantly smothered by her brother, "I'm +afraid, Geordie; I'm no gain' farther upon this dark road." + +At last the little company reached the room that had been assigned to +them. It was the old still-room, but it had been long in disuse, and +was scarcely less dim than the passages which led to it. The high narrow +window only admitted a few slanting rays of sunlight, that danced on the +white vaulted roof, which was queerly curved and arched by the windings +of a narrow staircase above. It looked, however, none the less an +imposing chamber to Geordie, who instinctively drew off his cap as he +came in from the sunny glare of the fresh spring day to its +semi-darkness. + +Then Jean, who had decided that the best code of manners was to watch +what Geordie did, and follow implicitly, began to pull the strings of +her little bonnet, to remove it from her head. It had been a present +from Mistress Gowrie on New Year's Day, and this was the first occasion +on which Jean had worn it, though it had often been taken from its +resting-place in a red cotton pocket-handkerchief, and viewed with +complacency. To-day, when it came to be-tied, she had to apply to +Geordie, her unfailing help in all extremities; and he in his efforts to +make an imposing bow like the one which decorated Mistress Gowrie's +ample chin, had knotted the strings after the manner of whipcord, so +that they required all Grace's ingenuity to disentangle them. + +Presently, after all these preliminaries were satisfactorily +accomplished, the young teacher seated herself at the table, and began, +to fumble nervously among the books which she had brought to use. There +was a little story-book that Walter and she used to like long ago, in +which she thought would be nice to read to them, and her mother's Bible, +in which she had been searching all the morning for what might be best +to choose as the first lesson, having selected and rejected a great many +parables and incidents both in the New and Old Testaments, and was even +now doubtful what they should begin to read. + +The sight of the books reminded Geordie of his pocket compendium of +knowledge, and coming to the table he laid the dog-eared "Third Primer" +in Grace's hand, saying, "I've been once through, but I'm thinkin' I've +maybe forgot it some. I doubt Jean doesna know one letter from another, +though I've whiles tried to make her understand," added Geordie, rather +ruefully, as he glanced towards the smiling little maiden, who sat quite +unabashed at this account of her ignorance. + +Grace was rather taken aback by the sight of the spelling-book, and also +by Geordie's statement as to the amount of his knowledge, though it was +the same as he had made at their first interview. Grace, however, in her +eagerness, had not understood its full import, so she gasped out in +some dismay, "But you can read the Bible a little, can you not, +Geordie?" + +"Maybe I might, if I tried," replied Geordie, in a hopeful tone. "They +were just goin' to put me into the Bible when I left the school. I have +heard them reading out some of the stories, and I thought they wouldn't +be that difficult to spell out. Maybe if I read in the primer for a +while, ye'll put me into the Bible," he added, evidently having a strong +idea of the necessity for a good foundation of spelling-book lore before +proceeding to use it. + +But Grace thought ruefully of all her high-flown plans for this Sunday +class, and felt that it was a terrible descent to be restricted to the +"Third Primer." But Geordie seemed convinced that through this dog-eared +volume lay the only royal road to learning. He had already opened the +book at one of the little lessons near the end which he seemed to think +he had not sufficiently mastered in the "schoolin' days" already far +away in the distance to the little herd-boy. He still stood by Grace's +side at the table, and his finger travelled slowly along the page as he +read, in the nasal sing-song tone in which the reading functions were +performed at the parish school, one of those meaningless little +paragraphs that are supposed to be best adapted by the compilers of +primers for teaching the young idea how to shoot. + +Grace sat listening, rather perplexed as to what course it would be best +to pursue. This certainly was not the kind of ideal Sunday-class which +she had in her mind all these months; indeed, this "Third Primer" was +hardly orthodox food for Sunday at all, according to her ideas; and yet +Geordie was laboriously travelling over the page with a dogged +earnestness which she did not know how to divert into any other channel +without doing harm in some shape or other. But presently help came to +her from a quarter where she had least expected it. + +Jean, who had been seated on the form unnoticed for several minutes, +listening to Geordie's earnest but uninteresting sing-song, as he stood +at the table leaning over his lesson-book, got tired of her neglected +situation, and descending from her high seat, she planted her sturdy +little legs on the floor, saying, in a decided tone, as she stumped away +towards the door, "Geordie, I'm tired sittin' here. I'm away home." +Jean's words fell like a thunderbolt both on Geordie and Grace. The +blood mounted to the boy's face, and his earnest blue eyes turned +anxiously towards the young teacher, to see what she was thinking of +such an utter breach of good manners on Jean's part. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST LESSON.] + +Poor Grace felt bitterly conscious of sudden and terrible failure in +this work which she had so longed to undertake. She had not been able to +interest one scholar for a quarter of an hour, and the other seemed only +to have his heart set on learning to spell. "But it is not quite time to +go home yet, Jean," she faltered, as she watched the little girl's +efforts to open the door, since Geordie did not seem inclined to come +to her assistance. "Indeed, we haven't really begun yet," continued +Grace. "Come, Jean, would you not like to stay a little longer and hear +a story from the Bible before you go? Geordie used to like them at +school, he says;" and then, turning to the boy, who stood looking in +grave reproving silence at Jean, she said, "Besides, Geordie, I think, +perhaps, I did not quite explain to you the other day what I thought we +should try to learn on Sunday afternoons when you come here. I shall be +very glad to help you with spelling, too, you know, but I thought I +should like to tell you something about the Lord Jesus Christ our +Saviour, and to read some of his wonderful words which we find in the +New Testament. You have heard of him, have you not, Geordie?" + +"Oh, ay, I'm thinkin' I have. But it was in the Auld Testament they were +readin' when I was at the school. I mind there was a right fine story +about a herd-laddie killin' a big giant, that one o' the laddies telt me +once. You've heard it many a time from me, Jean." + +"Ah, yes, I know that story too," Grace replied, brightening, as if a +glimmer of light had come to her in her perplexity. "And if you will +listen, I can tell you another story--about a Shepherd, too. I'm sure +you would like it, if you would only come back for a little and listen, +Jean," said Grace, eagerly. + +She did not venture to open the Bible, in case the little girl should +think the book would imply another course of spelling, and be roused +into immediate flight. Abandoning all her carefully arranged plans for +teaching which she had been thinking of for so long, she looked into +Geordie's eyes, which were still wandering hungrily towards the +unconquered pages of the primer, and began to tell of the Shepherd who +watched the hundred sheep in a wilderness far away in a very hot +country, where the burning sun dried up the streams and withered the +pasture, and where it was very difficult to find food for either man or +beast. And then she told of how very wise and tender this Shepherd was +with his flock, looking after their wants day and night, and taking very +special care of the silly, play-loving lambs, who did not guess what +terrible dangers they might fall into; for there were wild beasts +prowling about, ready to pounce upon them, and rushing torrents that +came suddenly from the hillsides in rainy seasons, which would have +drowned them in a minute, if the Shepherd's watchful eye had not been +there. He knew all their names, too, though sheep are so wonderfully +like each other." + +"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie. "He must have more wit than Gowrie's +shepherd, then. He has been wi' them for more than a year now, and I +dinna think he knows the one from the other so well as I do." + +Little Jean seemed to have abandoned her design of immediately returning +home, and was gradually edging nearer the table, with her twinkling +black eyes fixed on Grace. + +"But I was going to tell you what happened to one of the little lambs in +spite of the Shepherd's watchful care," Grace continued, feeling +inspirited by the growing interest of her audience. + +"Eh, but I hope none o' the wild beasts ye spoke o' got hold of it," +said Geordie, drawing a long breath. + +"Well, there's no saying what might have happened, but for the Good +Shepherd. For the little lamb got lost--lost among bleak, sandy hills, +where it could find no green blade to eat, and got very hungry and +footsore. It could hear no kind shepherd's voice that it used to love to +listen to in happier days, but only terrible sounds like the bark of +wolves, coming nearer, and lions prowling about when it began to get +dark." + +"Puir lambie!" murmured Jean, whose face now rested on her little fat +hands, while, leaning on the table, she looked up in Grace's face; "it +must surely ha'e been very frightened," she added, in a compassionate +tone; for she knew that she did not like to cross the turf in front of +the cottage, after dark, without Geordie's protecting hand. + +"Yes, it surely must have been frightened enough, for it was certainly +in great danger, and the Shepherd knew what a terrible plight it must be +in, wandering about tired and hungry, far away from the fold. For what +do you think he did?" Grace continued, looking at Geordie; "he actually +left all the other sheep--the ninety-nine, you know--in the wilderness, +and went away to seek for this poor little silly lost lamb." + +"Did he though! He must have been a real fine man," responded Geordie, +warmly. "There's Gowrie's shepherd lost a wee lambie among the hills not +lang syne, and when Gowrie asked him, when he came home, why he didna +look about among the heather for it, he said he couldn't leave the rest, +and that it was a puir sick beastie no' worth much trouble. But it was a +nice wee thing for a' that, and it must have died all alone there, with +nobody to give it a drop of water," said Geordie, regretfully, for he +had a tender heart for all dumb creatures. "I must tell Gowrie's lad +about this Shepaerd the very next time he comes round the hill. But did +he find the lambie?" he asked, turning to Grace. + +"Yes, he found it. He looked for it 'till he found it,' the story says. +After wandering along a road full of danger and painfulness, and +sorrowful sights of the terrible ruin the wild beasts had wrought, he +came upon the little strange lamb, just when its heart was beginning to +faint and fail. The story does not say that he punished it for running +away and giving him so much trouble, or even that he spoke some chiding +words and pushed it along in front of him with his crook, as I have +sometimes seen shepherds on the road do when the sheep get footsore and +weary and unwilling to go on with the journey." + +"Ay do they. They get their licks many a time when they don't deserve +them," chimed in Geordie, in a pathetic tone. + +"Well, but instead of any hard words or beatings, what do you think the +Shepherd did? He took the little lamb into his own weary arms, and it +lay safe and warm there, while he carried it all the way home to the +fold." + +"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie, in warmest admiration. "Eh, but the +lambie must surely have been right fond of the Shepherd after that. I'm +thinkin' he would know his voice better than before, and follow him +right close and canny. That's the kind o' shepherd all beasts would +like, for they know fine when a body cares for them," Geordie said, with +a glowing face, as he looked up at Grace, and the "Third Primer" slipped +unheeded on the floor. + +Was it a mere chance coincidence that this remark of Geordie's came at a +moment when it made more easy of introduction to Grace that part of the +parable story which she was full of eagerness to tell to her first +scholars? She desired that it might prove to them not merely a pleasant +tale, which had beguiled an hour that had threatened to be a very weary +one, to little Jean, at least; but that, through its homely dress, they +might catch a glimpse of its higher meaning, and be able to trace the +footsteps of the Great Shepherd of souls. + +"Yes, Geordie," she continued, "one would certainly imagine that the +sheep would follow such a shepherd very closely, and be very sure that +his way was always best, and that he was leading them by wise safe +paths, even when they seemed thorny and toilsome; but it is not so. I +can tell you of a Shepherd who not only went through many painful dark +desolate places, so that his flock might not stumble and fall when they +came to follow, but ended by laying down his life for his sheep. And yet +these very sheep do not always listen to his voice, nor follow the safe +narrow paths which he has tracked out for them, through the wilderness, +to the happy fold. I think you must both have heard of this Shepherd, +Geordie, and little Jean too." + +"I never knew a shepherd except Gowrie's, and he lost the bonnie lambie +with the black face, that used to lick Geordie's hand," replied little +Jean, with a doleful expression in her usually merry black eyes. + +"Ah, but this Good Shepherd always searches for the lost sheep till he +finds it, and then he carries it in his arms all the journey through to +his beautiful home among the angels, and there is joy among them over +the little found lamb. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ who calls himself +the Good Shepherd, Jean, and who has told us this story about finding +the lost sheep, that we might understand the better how he came to this +world to save us from dark dangerous paths of sin that go down to death. +For we have all strayed as this poor silly lamb did, and some of us are +straying yet," continued Grace; and then, glancing at Geordie's earnest +face, she said, "You have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to +save us from our sins, have you not, Geordie?" + +"I have heard tell o' him. But I didna just think he was so real-like as +a shepherd with his sheep, or that he would have ta'en that trouble for +_one_," Geordie replied, with a dreamy look in his eyes; but he did not +say more. + +Just then Margery knocked at the door, and intimated that the hour was +expired, and little Jean again began to show some signs of restlessness, +so Grace felt regretfully that the first afternoon had come to an end, +and she had not followed any part of the programme which she had +previously marked out. There was the hymn-book, with a tune all ready +to sing to one of the hymns, which Grace had practised painstakingly on +the piano the day before. But now she found that neither Jean nor +Geordie could sing, so she thought it might be wise to select something +simpler than she had chosen before, and ended by singing her oldest +childish favourite, "The Happy Land." It was evidently new to the +children; for their poor old deaf granny's was not a musical home. +Geordie's eyes dilated with delight as he listened, and he kept giving +Jean a series of nods across the table, in case she should by any chance +miss the full enjoyment of such beautiful sounds. + +A second knock from Margery, this time carrying a plateful of +currant-cake which Miss Hume had sent to the children, fairly broke up +the little gathering. Grace felt with disappointment that this first +class had come sadly short of her ideal, was a complete failure, in +fact, when she remembered all that she had meant to say and do, and all +the hoped-for responses on the part of the scholars. + +In thinking of this afternoon long afterwards, when it lay in the clear +rounded distance of the past, Grace used to smile as she remembered her +restless impatience, and compare herself to the little girl who was +always pulling up by the roots the flowers she had planted in her +garden, to see how they were getting on. + +When they prepared to leave the little still room, Grace handed Geordie +his precious "Third Primer," which she found lying on the floor, and as +he put it into his jacket pocket, he said with a smile, "I won't bring +it back with me, I'm thinkin'. Ye'll maybe tell us some more about the +Good Shepherd next time, and I can hold at the spellin' when I'm +herdin', and maybe I'll soon be able to get into the Bible itself," he +added, still firm in his belief that the only entrance lay through the +spelling-book. + +Grace, remembering little Jean's dislike to the exit through the dark +passages, led the way to a door which opened into a path to the garden. +Jean manifested undisguised satisfaction when the dim still-room +precincts were fairly left behind, and they got into the pleasant old +walled-in garden, where the yellow afternoon's sun was lying on the +opening fruit-blossom, and bringing delicious scents out of the +newly-blown lilac and hawthorn. She kept pulling Geordie's corduroys, to +draw his attention to all that captivated her as they walked along the +broad gravel walk. This was certainly a much pleasanter way home than +along the dim passage, and Jean decided that the best part of the +afternoon had come last. Presently Grace opened the door of one of the +greenhouses, and they stood among richer colours and sweeter scents than +before. The children had been surveying with admiring wonder the +dazzling house glittering in the sun, which was making each pane sparkle +like a diamond, but they never dreamt that it would be given to them to +enter it, or indeed that it had an interior which could be reached, so +entirely did it seem to belong to the region of the sun, not to the +world of thatched cottages and grey walls. + +"Eh, but surely this will be something like the happy land you were +singin' aboot," Geordie said at last, with a long-drawn breath, after he +had wandered about in silence for some time, revelling in the exotic +delights of the first greenhouse he had ever seen. + +"Oh yes, Geordie; there will be all this, and a great deal more; things +so beautiful and, glorious that our poor minds can't even imagine what +they will be like," said Grace, glowingly, feeling a thrill of pleasure +to hear that the hymn had any meaning for the boy, so desponding was she +concerning her efforts. "Look here, I'll just read to you about the +pleasant place where the Good Shepherd leads his flock, after their +journey on earth is over." And leaning against an old orange-tree, +Grace read to her little scholars about that wonderful multitude "which +came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made +them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the +throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that +sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, +neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any +heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, +and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe +away all tears from their eyes." They stood quite still for a few +moments after Grace had finished reading, each thinking some new +thoughts. + +In the mind of little Jean, to be sure, there certainly prevailed some +confusion of ideas between the happy land of which she had been hearing, +and the beautiful garden in which she stood. Indeed, to the end of her +life, the yellow glitter of the sun on the Kirklands greenhouses brought +to her mind the description of that "city of pure gold, as it were +transparent glass;" and the tall tropical plants which were ranged round +the shining floor were to her the embodiments of the trees whose leaves +were for the "healing of the nations." + +But Geordie's thoughts were most about that Shepherd Saviour who seemed +to be able to lead his flock away from bleak, scorching places to such a +blessed land as these words told of. + +In spite of old Adam's approaching shadow on the gravel walk, Grace +plucked a few of the rare, beautiful roses and gave them to little Jean, +whose small fat hands were eagerly stretched out to receive the prize. +They spent the remainder of their flourishing existence in a broken +yellow jug on the window-sill of Granny Baxter's cottage, and were a joy +to Jean for many days. And when it was the fate of their companions +still left in their stately glass home to be gathered into Adam's barrow +when their charms had past, and ignominiously flung away, Jean's roses +had a more honourable future. After they had done their duty faithfully +on the window-sill, the dead leaves were tenderly gathered and scattered +in the drawers allotted to Jean in the ancient chest, where they made a +sweet scent in their embalmment for many a day. + +The little party arrived at last at the farther end of the garden, where +there was a door in the high, red wall opening on a path which led to +the turnpike-road. Grace turned the rusty key, and the children saw the +familiar face of their native valley again. Giving a lingering backward +glance into the pleasant garden which they had just left, they trotted +away towards the dusty high-road, while Grace stood watching them till +they were out of sight. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ELSIE GRAY + + +"I'll tell you what it is, Grace; that scholar of yours is far too fine +a fellow to be left to tie companionship of old Gowrie's cattle any +longer." + +The speaker was a bright, breezy-looking lad in midshipman's dress, who +was sauntering up and down the old terrace at Kirklands, in company with +our friend Grace. She is a year older than when we saw her last at the +garden-gate, parting with her two scholars after their first Sunday +together. They have had a great many afternoons in company since then. +Grace had remained in her summer home all through the long Scotch +winter, and now autumn had come, bringing with it her brother Walter on +a delightful holiday of six weeks, after an absence of years. + +Miss Hume had got so frail the previous year, that she was unfit for the +return journey to her house in Edinburgh, and the following months had +only brought an increase of weakness. She now lay in her darkened room, +with, her flickering lamp of life burning slowly to its socket, while +some young lives beside her were being kindled by glowing fires which +would cause their hearts to burn long after the "glow of early thought +declines in feeling's dull decay." + +The little company in the still-room had somewhat increased, four others +haying been added to the two first scholars. One of them was Elsie Gray, +the forester's daughter, a pretty little girl with a sweet voice, and +able to sing a great many hymns, so that Grace had no longer to perform +solos to the still-room audience, but was accompanied by more than one +voice timidly following Elsie's example, and joining in the singing. +There were three other scholars from the borders of the next parish, and +a very happy party they all made together. But it must be confessed that +the warmest place in Grace's heart was reserved for the first scholar +whom she had found that chilly spring day among the pasture lands which +sloped down to the little stream. Judged by an educational standard, +Geordie was certainly, with the exception of the little Jean, the most +deficient of the company, in spite of his having manfully conquered the +last pages of the "Third Primer," and got at last "intil the Bible." +The other boys and girls still attended the parish school on week days, +and seemed more or less very fairly in possession of the rudiments of +education. Some things, however, which they read and heard in the little +quiet room at Kirklands sank into their hearts as they had never done +when they read them as the stereotyped portion of the Bible-reading +lesson amid the mingled jangle of slates and pencils and pattering feet, +with the hum of rough northern tongues, which prevailed in the parish +school-room. + +To Geordie even this discordant medium of education had been denied. +Grace had set her heart on having him sent to school during the past +winter. She saw what a precious boon such an opportunity appeared in +Geordie's eyes when she suggested it to him. But Farmer Gowrie had to be +consulted, and finding the herd-boy useful in winter as well as during +the summer months, he decided that he could not possibly spare Geordie. +And as for Granny Baxter, she could not understand what anybody could +want with more learning who was, able to earn money. So Geordie had one +day lingered behind the other scholars to tell Grace that the idea of +going to school even during the winter quarter must be given up. There +was always a manly reticence about the boy which made one feel that +words of sympathy would be patronising; but Grace could see what a +bitter disappointment it was, though he appeared quite unalterable in +his decision that he "belonged to Gowrie," when Grace tried to arrange +the matter by an interview with the farmer. He could only claim the boy +week by week, and the young teacher did not see the necessity for such +self-denial on Geordie's part. + +Then Grace's store of pocket-money had been devoted to sending little +Jean to school. This arrangement had been a source of great delight to +Geordie--much more of an event to him, indeed, than to the phlegmatic +little Jean, to whom the primer did not contain such precious +possibilities as it did to her brother's eyes. Grace had arranged that +she should go to a girls' school lately opened in the parish. It was the +one to which Elsie Gray, the forester's daughter, went. On her way to +school she had to pass Granny Baxter's cottage, and after Jean was +installed as her fellow-scholar, Elsie used generally to call and see if +the little girl was ready to start, so that they might walk along the +road together. + +Elsie was a pale, fragile-looking girl, who looked as if she had grown +among crowded streets, rather than blossomed in the open valley, with +its flowing river and breezy hillsides. She was a very silent child, +too, with a meek grace about all her movements; her large grey eyes +shone out of her face with a luminous, dreamy light in them, which +distressed her practical, rosy-faced mother, who used to say that she +did not know where Elsie had come by "those ghaist-like eyes o' hers," +and as for those washed-out cheeks, "there was no accountin' for them +neither;" and the worthy matron would go on to narrate with what +abundance and amplitude Elsie had been ministered to all her life; and +yet Elsie glided about still and pale, with her large eyes shining like +precious stones, generally hungrily possessed by some book which she +held in her hand. She had an insatiable appetite for reading, and had +long ago exhausted the juvenile library attached to the church, while +the few books which comprised the forester's collection had been read +and re-read by her many times. The farmer librarian, who remained half +an hour after the congregation was dismissed on Sundays to dispense +books for any that might wish them, in the room behind the church, had +been obliged to give Elsie entrance to the shelves reserved for older +people, after she had exhausted the youthful library. It is not to be +supposed, however, that by this admission Elsie was allowed to plunge +chartless into light literature. The shelves contained only books of the +most sober kind, the lightest admixture being narratives of the +persecutions of the Waldenses and stories of the Covenanting struggles. +These Elsie read and pondered with intense interest, interweaving the +scenes in her imagination with the familiar places and people round her, +and living a far-away dreamy life of her own in the forester's cozy +little nest, while her active-minded, busy-fingered mother made her +cheese and butter, and reared her poultry, and was withal so very +capable of performing her own duties, that the forester sometimes +ventured to think, when Mrs. Gray complained of Elsie's "handlessness," +that seeing the mistress was so well able for "her own turn," it was +fortunate his little daughter chanced to be of a more contemplative +disposition. + +Mrs. Gray had heard from Margery of the Sunday class which her young +mistress had opened at Kirklands, and though, as the forester's wife +remarked, "Elsie had enough and to spare of schoolin' already," yet it +would only be a suitable mark of respect to the lady of Kirklands to +send her there on Sunday afternoons; and so it happened that Elsie +became one of Grace's scholars, sitting in the little still-room on +Sunday afternoons, her large tender eyes answering in sympathetic +flashes as the young teacher talked with the little company of those +wonderful days when the Son o Man lived upon the earth, or told them +some story of the earlier times of the world, when God's voice was heard +in the beautiful garden in the cool of the day, or when he guided his +chosen people by signs and wonders. + +In those days, however, the gospel tidings were not more to Elsie than +many another pathetic story which she knew, and served simply as food +for her imagination, though Grace's earnest words did throw a halo round +the familiar incidents which the daily reading of a chapter in the New +Testament had failed to do. Yet it was not till some of the sharp +sorrows of life had fallen upon Elsie that those words which she heard +in the still-room came with living power to her heart, and became to her +a light in dark days, a joy in sorrowful times, which nothing was able +to take away from her. + +And this was the little girl who used to knock gently at the door of +Granny Baxter's cottage every morning as she passed along the road to +school, arrayed in her pretty grey stuff frock, and with her snowy linen +tippet and sun-bonnet. Sometimes she found little Jean's round smiling +face peering against the peat-stack at the end of the cottage awaiting +her coming, for a great friendship had sprung up between these two, +though they were certainly very different in character. Elsie seemed to +have a brooding protective care over the little unkempt Jean, exercising +a sort of guardianship of her in the new life at school. She would often +come to her rescue when Jean sat pouting over a blurred slate, en which +she was helplessly trying to reproduce the figures on the blackboard, or +give her timely aid amid the involvements of some question in the +Shorter Catechism. It was Elsie who tied the bonnet-strings now, with +more dexterous fingers than Geordie's, and performed many similar kindly +offices besides; and little Jean was already learning from the +forester's daughter many habits of tidiness which her poor, failing +grandmother had not been capable of teaching her. + +Sometimes, on their way from school, the girls would find Geordie +perched on the paling of one of Gowrie's fields, while the cattle grazed +within the fences, watching for their coming to enliven a lonely hour +with their talk and news of school doings. His eye used to glisten with +pride and pleasure as he watched the little Jean appear, carrying her +books and slate, and already bearing many traces of civilising +influences. And it is not to be wondered at if his eye rested with +admiration sometimes on the sweet maiden, who was generally her +companion, and that he learnt to watch eagerly for the first glimpse of +the snowy sun-bonnet along the winding green lane which led from the +girls' school to the high road. Sometimes Elsie used to bring one of her +favourite books in her plaited-cord school-bag, and then the trio would +sit in a shady corner, where Geordie's vigilant eye could still keep +watch over his charge, while the little girl introduced her friends to +some of the favourite scenes of her ideal world. Elsie seemed to +understand, though she had never been told it in so many words, all +about Geordie's intense desire for knowledge, and to appreciate his +self-denial in remaining in his present post. And so it happened there +grew up in her mind a tender sympathy for all that he had missed, side +by side with an admiring belief in his character. + +How many thoughts and ideas he surely must have, she used to think, +after one of those meetings, when she took her solitary way home, after +parting with Jean, and remembered Geordie's remarks, which seemed to +throw new light on her favourite histories, and to touch with insight +all that was most beautiful and true in them. Often Elsie used to +delight the unvocal brother and sister by singing one of her hymns, +which for days afterwards would echo in some "odd corner" of the lonely +little herd-boy's brain. Sometimes, too, they discussed what they had +been hearing on the previous Sunday at Kirklands; and Elsie always felt +more interested in the lesson after hearing Geordie's gentle, reverent +talk. And to Elsie, who had neither brother nor sister, there was an +infinite charm in Geordie's devotion to his sister Jean, and his +unwearied anxiety for her happiness. She noticed, too, the tender, +chivalrous care with which he ministered to his old grandmother, never +wearying of her selfish, querulous ways, and sacrificing himself to her +smallest wishes. + +So it happened that a warm friendship sprang up between those three who +sat side by side in Grace Campbell's little school-room; and their daily +lives had become pleasantly interwoven during these past months. To +Jean, Elsie appeared the embodiment of all that was worthy of imitation, +from her snowy sun-bonnet to her gentle voice, both seeming equally +unattainable to the little girl. When Geordie returned to the village on +Saturday night, he used generally to hear from Jean some glowing +narrative in Elsie's praise, to which Geordie's ears were quite wide +open, though he sat bending over his books in the "ingle neuk" of the +cottage kitchen. + +When her idea of a winter at school had to be abandoned, Grace gave him +a few helpful class-books, and tried to direct his efforts to learn as +much as was possible; but, during the past year, her aunt's increasing +weakness and dependence on her companionship made it impossible for +Grace to give the boy such practical help as she would fain have done. +But Geordie had been fighting his own battle manfully, and had made more +progress than Grace guessed. + +Walter had first been telling her as they walked on the terrace +together, that the day before he had found Geordie busy with a geography +book as he tended his cattle, and how pleased he had been to hear about +the new lands Walter had seen. Like Elsie, Walter felt that, in +Geordie's mind, things seemed to gather a richness and an interest with +which his own impressions had not clothed them. + +"You've no idea how many queer questions the fellow asked me about +everything," continued Walter. "Indeed, Grace, I couldn't help thinking +how much more good Geordie would have got out of all the things and +places I've seen since I went away, than I have. And yet he's much too +clever for a sailor's life. What can we do with him, Grace? I really +can't bear to think of his drudging on as a farm servant to old Gowrie, +though he seems quite contented with the prospect," and Walter turned to +Grace, who glanced at her brother's kindly face with pleasure, though +not unmixed with surprise, that he should take such an interest in her +Sunday-scholar. + +Walter seemed to look on Grace's class rather in a humorous light when +he first heard of its existence on his return to Kirklands. And +presently he had begun to grudge that she should devote herself to it, +and thus deprive him of the pleasure of her society during the long +Sunday afternoons, when they used to be together in the old days. And, +in the midst of all her joy in having her brother with her again, Grace +had been feeling with sadness that there was as yet no response in +Walter's heart to those unseen, eternal things, which, in her efforts to +share them with the little company on Sunday, had become increasingly +vivid to her own mind. He used occasionally to rally her on her new +fancies, which he seemed to think quite harmless and suitable for a +girl, provided they did not cross his plans and fancies. + +One day, when he was on his way to fish, he had happened to meet +Geordie, who was herding his cattle near the stepping-stones. Geordie +was a clever angler, and could wile more trout out of the river than +most people, and Walter had been delighted with his information as to +the fishing capabilities of the Kirklands river. Since that day they had +always been friends when they chanced to meet. Walter could never see +the sun-bleached locks gleaming in the distance without crossing +whatever gate or field happened to lie between, and going to have a talk +with him; so the boys had seen much more of each other than Grace knew. +She had often been obliged to leave "Walter to solitary rambles, owing +to her aunt's, increasing dependence on her during her long illness, so +it happened that she felt some surprise when she saw Walter more moved +than was his wont as he eagerly discussed plans for helping Geordie. + +"I'll tell you what it is, Gracie," said Walter, in his blunt way, as +his quick eye detected Grace's slight surprise that he should have so +warmly espoused the cause of her Sunday-scholar. "You know I have seen +Geordie a good deal lately. We have had a lot of fishing talk, and all +that, and I like the chap--he's a first-rate fellow. I can't bear to +see a fellow so much better than myself trudging away behind those +beasts of Gowrie's day after day. And, besides, Grace, the fact is I owe +him something more than anything I may be able to do for him can ever +repay. It isn't every fellow, I can tell you, who would have had the +courage to say to me what he did," stammered Walter. + +"What did he say, Walter?" asked Grace, more astonished than ever. "I +thought you hardly knew more of Geordie Baxter than his name. You know +he is my favourite scholar. But it is a long time since I have had a +quiet talk with him. I well remember the first conversation we had, +standing on the stepping-stones near that bend of the river where the +birches grow." + +"Ah, yes, I know the place. It's curious, it was just about that very +spot I was going to tell you. I met him there, one day, not long ago, +and he happened to say that he had been asking Gowrie to stop sending +the cattle to that bit of pasture, because the stepping-stones made it a +thoroughfare, and that bull had been getting more savage lately, and he +could not always persuade people that it was dangerous to pass near him; +but Gowrie had said it was nonsense, and so forth. Well, you see, I'm +not very fond of old Gowrie, and when I saw how meekly Geordie submitted +to him, I felt provoked, and began to speak a little strongly, as we +middies sometimes do--swore, in fact. And if Geordie didn't make me feel +more ashamed of myself than ever I did in my life. You've tried your +hand on me before now, Gracie, and I'm sure you'll be glad to +hear--well, that I'm going to try to lead a very different life now." +Walter's voice faltered, and Grace looked at him with glistening eyes. + +After a few moments' silence, she said, "But Walter, dear, you haven't +told me yet what Geordie said." + +"Well, Grace, I hardly think I should like to tell you all he said. But +he came, and laying his hand on my shoulder, looked at me with those +earnest eyes of his. 'You've been very kind to me, Maister Campbell,' he +began, 'and it would be ill-done no to min' ye that ye are giving a sore +heart to your best Friend ye have by takin' his dear name in vain,' and +then he said a little more about it. I was so taken aback, Grace, I +could hardly believe my own ears. It must have required a lot of +downright courage to speak like that; there isn't a mid in all our crew +who would have ventured to do so. And yet I dare say I'm in for +something of the same kind when I go back again to the ship. For you +know I must be a 'good soldier,' Grace," added Walter, with a gentle, +fearless look in his eyes that carried Grace's thoughts back to an early +scene, when she stood in the crowded street in her nurse's hand, and +watched her father's face as he rode alongside his men to his last +battle. And as she looked at Walter's face, she remembered some old +words which say, "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that +taketh a city;" and she lifted up her heart, and gave God thanks that +this young spirit, so dear and precious to her, had taken him for his +Leader and Lord. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HOW GEORDIE'S HERDING DAYS CAME TO AN END. + + +It was a lovely autumn evening. The valley of Kirklands lay flooded in +the sunset glow. Its yellowing fields were tinged with warm-crimson and +purple, and the golden light shimmered on the trees and fringed the dark +fir tops. Never had her home looked more beautiful, Grace thought, when, +at last, the brother and sister turned to go indoors, after their +earnest talk. She stood leaning on the old carved railing of the steps, +taking one more glance at the peaceful scene before she followed Walter +into the darkening entrance-hall, when her eye caught sight of a stumpy +figure which she thought she recognised. + +It was little Jean Baxter, who hurried along the elm avenue as fast as +her short legs could carry her. She looked breathless and excited, and +when she came nearer Grace saw that she was tearful and dishevelled. She +hastened down the steps to meet her, wondering what childish grief +could be agitating the mind of the usually imperturbable little Jean. +When she caught eight of Grace, she threw up her arms with a loud, +bitter wail that rang among the old elms, echoing through their arching +branches, and startling the birds that had just gone to roost. "Oh, Miss +Cam'ell! Geordie, Geordie!--he's hurt; he's dyin'; Blackie's gotten hold +o' him." + +It was vain to ask anything more. Jean could only repeat her wailing +refrain, so taking the child's hand, Grace quietly asked her to lead the +way to where Geordie was, trying to quiet her bitter weeping by such +soothing words as she could muster in the midst of her own distress at +the possibility of any serious accident having happened to her favourite +scholar. But poor little Jean's sad monotone still rang mournfully +through the soft evening air as she trotted along by Grace's +side--"Geordie's dyin'; Blackie's got hold o' him." + +Grace, however, managed to learn from a few incoherent words that the +boy was lying, in whatever state he might be, at the river side, near +the stepping-stones. He had, that afternoon, taken the cattle, along +with the dangerous bull, to the heathery knolls, where Gowrie's careful +soul grudged that any morsel of pasture should remain unused. Geordie +had always been most careful in warning unwary passers-by of their +danger, for, though fearless enough himself, he still held that Blackie +was the "ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," and never felt +easy in his mind except when he had him within the fences of the upland +fields. He had once or twice tried to tether the animal near one of the +hillocks, but he saw that it made his temper more dangerous than ever; +besides, the little patches of green pasture were so scattered through +the heather, and had carefully to be scented out by discriminating +noses, that to have fettered poor Blackie to one spot seemed to him a +crying injustice, uneasy as he felt at his being able to roam at large +so near a thoroughfare. Geordie had never even allowed himself the +luxury of Jean's company when there were no fences to put between +Blackie and her. + +But that day the harvest holidays had been given at the girls' school. +There had been prizes distributed and an examination held which lasted +till evening. Elsie Gray had got several trophies of her diligence, but +the great and unexpected event of the day was that little Jean had +actually got a prize. She was nearly beside herself with ecstasy as she +clutched the gay crimson and gilt volume which was presented to her, +and resented that it should even for a moment be absent from her arms to +be admired by her companions. Then Geordie must hear about this +unexpected honour, must see and touch the treasure at once; and Jean +galloped off with the precious volume to the field where he was +generally to be found perched on the paling, awaiting their coming. +Elsie Gray followed, eager enough, too, to show her honours to the +boy-friend, whose golden opinions she dearly loved to win. There was a +pink flush on her usually pale cheek, as she glanced about in search of +Geordie when they reached the field, panting and breathless after their +race. But no Geordie was visible anywhere, and the field was quite empty +and tenantless. Then Jean remembered, what she had forgotten in her +excitement, that Geordie was to be herding at the hillocks to-day, and +so she started off to find him, forgetful that his present post was +forbidden ground. + +The girls were not long in reaching the stepping-stones, and presently +Jean was at Geordie's side, dancing round him with wild cries of +delight, as she flourished her gay prize in his rather bewildered eyes. +He had been lying with his face resting on his hands, on one of the soft +knolls of turf, looking at the sunset, and thinking of the new lands of +which he had lately been hearing from Walter Campbell. He seemed so +possessed by his own thoughts and reveries that he heard no sound of +coming footsteps till he looked up suddenly, and saw little Jean by his +side. He jumped up from the turf, and began to look wistfully towards +the river side to see if there was nobody else besides Jean coming to +enliven a lonely hour. + +Elsie had crossed the stepping-stones, and was moving towards the +hillock on which he stood, with her sun-bonnet in one hand, and her +heavy armful of shining prize books in the other with the golden sun's +rays falling on her. Her dusky hair was hanging rather more loosely than +usual, shaken out of its general smoothness by her hot face. The pale +face was all aglow with pleasure, and her large eyes looked radiant with +delight at the thoughts of the pleasure that little Jean's success, as +well as her own, would give to Geordie. The boy stood with his flaxen +hair all gilded by the sun, looking at her with a glad light in his blue +eyes. For a moment only, and then, with a look of terror, he glanced in +the opposite direction, remembering that this was dangerous ground. +Blackie had been roused from his sleepy grazing by little Jean's cry of +delight, and, looking up, his evil eye caught sight of Elsie, with her +bright colours, made more dazzling by the sunset tints. With a toss of +his head, and a few wild plunges, the brute, with his head near to the +ground, and his eyes fixed on his prey, made his way towards her. +Geordie shouted, "Back, Elsie; back on the stepping-stones!" but it was +too late. + +Elsie lost her presence of mind, and wavered backward and forward for a +moment, till it was impossible to save herself by taking refuge on the +other side of the stream, where Blackie, not knowing the advantage of +stepping-stones, would probably not have troubled himself to follow her. +In an instant Geordie had flung himself between the roused animal and +Elsie. His stick still lay on the hillock, where he had been resting, so +he had no weapon of defence, and Blackie, in his rage, would not spare +the faithful lad, who had spent so many lonely hours by his side. In +another moment, Geordie was lying gored and senseless on the heather. + +Elsie had reached the stepping-stones, and stood there transfixed like a +marble statue. Blackie might follow her now if he had a mind to, but he +had not. After a glance at Geordie, he plunged away with his heels in +the air through the heather, having an uneasy consciousness that he had +lost his temper, and treated a good friend rather roughly. + +As for little Jean, she had fortunately happened to be beyond Blackie's +range of observation; for it was on Elsie that his sole gaze had been +fixed, and he only vented his baulked fury on Geordie when the vision of +bright colours slipped away. Gowrie's ploughman happened to be passing +near, and had been a witness of the scene, though it was impossible for +him to give timely help. Elsie Gray, he noticed, was now safe on the +stepping-stones, and Geordie lying on the heather, with all the mischief +done to him that Blackie was likely to do. But the enraged animal might +attack somebody else presently, and the man thought the best service he +could render was to secure Blackie against doing further injury. Never +did repentant criminal receive handcuffs with more submission than the +guilt-stricken Blackie the badge of punishment. There was a subdued +pathetic look of almost human remorse and woe in the eye of the brute, +as he was led past the place where Geordie lay low among the heather. +The hands that had so often fed him and made a clean soft bed for him at +night, often stroking his great knotted neck, and never raised in unjust +punishment, lying helpless and shattered now, and the fair locks hung +across his face, all dabbled with blood. Elsie was now kneeling by his +side, but he was quite unconscious of her presence, and heedless of her +low wailing, as she looked wildly round to see if nobody was coming to +help Geordie, who had helped her so bravely. Little Jean had hurried +shrieking to the farm, with the news of the accident, and Mistress +Gowrie presently appeared, to Elsie's intense relief. She was a kindly +woman, and felt conscience-stricken as she kneeled beside the little +herd-boy; for she knew that it was not with his will that Blackie roamed +at large among those knolls. She had happened to hear his last +expostulation with her husband on the point; and this was how it had +ended. But she did not think he was dead. Elsie could hardly restrain a +cry of delight when she heard the whispered word that he lived still. +How joyfully she carried water in her sun-bonnet from the flowing river, +how tenderly she sprinkled it on his face and hands, and wiped the +bloodstained locks. + +And then old Farmer Gowrie came and stood with his hands behind his +back, and a shadow on his furrowed face, as he gazed on his young +servant with an uneasy stare. He kept restlessly moving backwards and +forwards to see whether the still motionless figure showed any sign of +life, till his wife reminded him that Granny Baxter was probably +ignorant of the terrible accident which had happened to her grandson, +and asked him to go and break the news to her. Little Jean had been +there before him, however; and Gowrie found the old woman crawling +helplessly along in the direction of the knolls, quite stupefied by the +terrible tidings that Jean had managed to convey to her deaf ears. The +little girl seemed possessed with the idea that Miss Campbell would be +sure to be able to help Geordie in this extremity; and so she left her +old granny to find her way alone, and had hurried away in the direction +of Kirklands to tell her sorrowful tale, meeting Grace, as we know, in +the elm avenue, after her eventful talk with her brother. + +They were already half-way to the stepping-stones, when Grace +remembered--feeling it unaccountable that, even in her anxiety, she +should have forgotten for an instant--that Walter must know what had +happened to Geordie--Geordie, to whom he owed so much. She felt that she +could not leave the little weeping girl to go on her way alone; but just +as she was standing hesitating what it might be best to do, she met one +of the dwellers in the valley, who promised to go at once and convey a +message to her brother, and then she and Jean hurried on towards the +fatal pasture lands. Before they crossed the stepping-stones which led +to the knolls, Grace could see a little group bending over a spot in the +heather; but no sound reached them through the calm evening air, except +the rippling of the sunset-tinted river, which rolled between. And so +Geordie was lying there gored, maimed, perhaps dying, as Jean persisted +in saying. Grace felt her heart sink with fear, lest the sorrowful +refrain should be true, as she crept silently near to the place where +the little company was gathered. But Geordie was not dead. + +"Here comes Miss Campbell," somebody said, and then the circle opened +up, and Grace caught a glimpse of her scholar lying very quietly among +the heather with his blue eye turned gladly to welcome his friend. + +"It was only a faint, after all,--and some bruises that will soon heal," +Mistress Gowrie said, in a tone of relieved anxiety, as she rose from +the turf where she had been kneeling to make way for Grace, who felt an +intense relief as she bent smilingly over him, and talked gently of the +danger past, with her heart full of thankfulness. + +When little Jean saw the happy aspect of matters, her grief gave place +to the wildest ecstasy of delight. Throwing herself down beside her +brother, she shouted gleefully, "Oh, Geordie, Geordie, ye're no dyin' +after all, ye're all right. I'll never greet again all the days o' my +life," was the rash promise which she made in her joy, remembering +Geordie's dislike to tears. Presently her thoughts reverted to her +treasure, which, in her grief, had been forgotten. It had been dropped +on the knoll when the accident happened, and Jean now bounded off +gleefully in search of it. + +A doctor had been sent for soon after the accident, but Geordie seemed +so well that old Gowrie already began to regret that they had been in +such haste in sending to fetch him. Presently Mistress Gowrie left the +knolls and returned to her usual evening duties, which she felt were put +sadly in arrear owing to this outbreak of Blackie's, and feeling truly +thankful that it had ended so fortunately. She invited old Granny Baxter +to have a cup of tea with her at the farm, which was a very great mark +of graciousness on the part of "the mistress," and extremely gratifying +to the old woman, to whom attentions of the kind came rarely. + +It had been arranged, also, by the farmer's wife that Geordie should be +moved into the "best bedroom" before the doctor came, and Granny +Baxter was filled with pride when she was shown the woodruff-scented +chamber, with its dark shining floor, and among other impressive +decorations from the farmyard, a waving canopy of peacock feathers above +the ancient chimney-piece, where Geordie was to sleep among snowy sheets +that night. But each time that they proposed he should be carried there +from his rough bed among the heather, Geordie pled rather wistfully, +"Just wait a wee while. I'm right comfortable here among the heather," +and once he added with a sad smile as he glanced at the farmer's wife, +"But I'll no be able to supper the beasts the night, Mistress Gowrie. +Maybe Sandy will look to them. Puir Blackie! give him a good supper; he +didn't mean any ill." + +Only Elsie Gray, of all the original group, still sat near Geordie, +where she could watch every movement, though she could not be seen by +him. She kept gazing at him with unutterable anguish in her eyes, and +only she detected the sharp spasms that occasionally crossed his face, +and felt his frame quiver with pain which he tried to conceal. + +"Miss Campbell," she whispered to Grace who was seated near her, "he's +very sore hurt, I'm sure of it. Oh, will the doctor no come soon!" and +when Grace looked into Geordie's face she began to share Elsie's fears. + +Presently Jean came bounding back in delight with her recovered treasure +to lay it in Geordie's hands. He looked at the gaily-bound book with his +most pleased smile, and then glancing at Jean proudly, he said, "Eh, +Jean, but ye'll be learnin' to be a grand scholar. I'm right glad ye +have got to the school." + +Then the eager little girl must needs have the book in her own hands +again, to search among the leaves for the illustrations which were +interspersed, so that Geordie might be introduced to all the beauties of +this wonderful volume. Geordie kept looking at her as she turned the +leaves with a somewhat pitiful gaze, and presently he said in a low +tone, "Jean, come a little nearer. I want to speak to ye, Jeanie. Do ye +ken I'm maybe goin' til the grand school the good Maister keeps waitin' +for us in the heavenly land? And I'll be learnin' a deal o' things there +that we canna learn down here," he added, with a smile; and then he +paused. + +Jean looked up from her boot with bewildered eyes as she listened to +Geordie's words; a grave expression came into her face, but the shadow +was only caused by her not understanding what he meant, for she knew +that Geordie occasionally went beyond her depth. + +"I'll no ever herd Gowrie's cows again, Jean, or wait at the fences for +Elsie and you. I'm dyin' Jeanie," he added in a hoarse whisper, as he +gazed sorrowfully at the little girl. + +There was no mistaking the meaning of these words, and little Jean, +dropping her precious book, burst into loud sobbing, as she flung +herself on Geordie. + +Grace had been watching the boy with a sinking heart, and a great fear +began to take possession of her that what he said might be true, as a +terrible spasm of agony crossed his face, and a groan of pain escaped +him. She looked anxiously to see if there was any sign of the doctor +coming, and taking little Jean aside, she told her that if she loved +Geordie she must be brave and quiet, even though he was so very ill, as +he seemed to think. Then she tried to speak some soothing words of +comfort, but little Jean wailed out with a fresh burst of sorrow: + +"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, why didn't God keep him from Blackie, if he loves him +as ye say? Ye mind how ye read to us in the Bible about him saving the +herd-laddie out o' the jaws o' the bear; oh, but, I think, he might +have taken care of our Geordie;" and poor little Jean would not be +comforted. + +"Where's granny?" Geordie had whispered, and Elsie rose from her post at +Geordie's head and flitted away like a little noiseless ghost to find +the old woman. She met her at the farm, where, having finished her cup +of tea, she was being shown some of Mistress Gowrie's feathered +favourites in the farmyard. + +"Mistress Gowrie, he's not better, as ye think; he says he's dyin', and +wants to see granny," Elsie said, with quivering lips, as she reached +them. + +"Dying, child, nonsense! what do you mean?" said the farmer's wife, +looking at Elsie to see if she was not dreaming. But Elsie looked +terribly wide-awake and sorrow-stricken, and Mistress Gowrie went off in +search of her husband. + +Then Granny Baxter began to perceive that there was something wrong, and +presently Elsie succeeded in making her understand, and began to guide +her slow steps to where her grandson still lay. Oh, how slow they were, +Elsie thought, as she glanced along the straight field path still to be +crossed before they reached the knolls, and thought of what might be +going on there. But had not Geordie wanted to see his grandmother, and +surely she might endure for him who had done so much for her? So the +little girl kept close by the old woman's side, who leant her wrinkled +hand on Elsie's shoulder, while, with the help of her staff in the +other, she hobbled along, with her eyes fixed upon the ground, groaning +and muttering about this terrible blow that seemed likely to fall upon +her. + +"Granny, granny, I've been wearyin' for you," said Geordie, holding out +both his hands, when at last Elsie's patience had guided the old woman +to the spot. "Oh, but I'm no able to make her hear. Nae words o' mine +can travel to her ear, and I had much to say to her," Geordie cried, +with a suppressed sob, as some terrible internal pain seemed to seize +him. + +The old woman had seated herself by his side, and her withered fingers +wandered trembling among his hair, as she moaned helplessly, "Oh, +laddie, laddie, what's this that's come upon us?" + +Suddenly, Geordie seemed to remember something, and, smiling brightly, +he feebly raised his hand to his jacket-pocket, and drew out the little +chamois bag, containing the slowly-gathered store of money with which he +intended to buy the ear-trumpet for his poor deaf granny. + +"I gathered the last sixpence yestreen, for holding the minister's +horse," he said, as he laid the bag in her hand, "It's to buy a thing +that makes deaf folk hear, granny. But she can't understand me, Miss +Cam'ell," he murmured, sadly, as he looked at Grace, who was leaning +over him; "and, oh, I would have liked well to tell her before I go away +about the Good Shepherd that you first told me about, Miss Cam'ell. I +dinna think she understands right what a Friend he can be to a body; and +I've always been waitin' till I got that horn for makin her hear to tell +her all about him, for it's no a thing that a body wad just like to roar +at the tap o' their voice. But you'll maybe speak to her some of the +things ye spak' to us, Miss Cam'ell. Ye'll have one less at the school +now, ye see," he added, smiling sadly; and then turning with a look of +tender pity on his grandmother, who watched him with wistful eyes, as if +she knew that his lips were moving for her, he said, "Oh, tell her to +listen to his voice, and let the sound into her heart. He was aye able +to mak' deaf folk hear, wasn't he, Miss Cam'ell?" said Geordie, with a +bright smile as he turned to his young teacher. + + +They had now got ready a sort of litter, on which they meant to carry +him to the farm; for Mistress Gowrie felt convinced that only more +comfortable surroundings and a visit from the doctor was necessary for +his complete recovery, and was resolved that no care of nursing on her +part should be wanting to atone for any past indifference to the welfare +of the little herd-boy with which she might reproach herself. + +Geordie, seeing her anxiety to perform this deed of kindness, at last +consented that they should take him from his lowly heather couch, and +carry him to all the comforts of the best bedroom at Gowrie. But each +time they tried to lift him the boy got so deathly pale, and seemed to +suffer so intensely, that even Mistress Gowrie was obliged to +acknowledge that it might be best to wait till the doctor came. Indeed, +it soon became evident to all that Blackie's blows had touched some +vital part, and Geordie's herding days were done. + +He lay for a little while with closed eyes, seeming thankful to be +undisturbed, and a silence fell on the group round him, not broken when +Walter Campbell joined it; for a glance from Grace, and a look at +Geordie's face, told him all. He stood there, in the freshness and +strength of his youth, looking at the ebbing life of the boy whom he +felt then as if he would have died to save. How he longed to tell him +of all the blessing his words had brought to his soul, of the life-long +gratitude which must surround his memory; but it was too late. Walter +felt that he could not disturb the passing soul with anything so +personal; but in the land where Geordie was going they would meet one +day; and he would keep his thanks till then. + +The silence had not been broken for several minutes. Poor little Jean +had been trying to keep very brave and quiet, since Grace explained to +her how much her noisy grief would vex Geordie. But Elsie, who had +returned to her post at Geordie's head, and was seated silently there, +now gave a smothered sob, which seemed to fall on Geordie's ear. He +opened his blue eyes, and looking wistfully about, said in a faint +whisper, "Elsie, I didna know ye was here. I saw you on the +stepping-stones just when I was meetin' Blackie, but I thought you had +been away home before now; it surely must be far on in the gloamin'. Eh, +Elsie, but I'll no be able to keep the tryst for the bramble gatherin' +wi' you," he said, in a mournful tone, turning towards her, and +referring to a long-planned holiday, when they were to go together to +search for brambles for Mistress Gowrie and the forester's wife's joint +jam making. "But, Elsie, speak to me," he continued, feebly, holding +out his hand, for he could not see her face where she sat, "We'll keep +our tryst in the bonnie land beside the green pastures and the still +waters ye often read to me about. Will we no', Elsie?" + +"Oh, Geordie, I can't bear it. Why did you no let Blackie get hold o' +me? Oh, Geordie, Geordie!" Elsie sobbed, as she crept round within sight +of the boy, and knelt beside him with clasped hands and lines of agony +on her face, that made the fair child look like a suffering woman. + +Geordie turned his dying eyes upon her with a look of mingled love and +sorrow, which none who saw it could ever forget; and stretching out both +his hands, he said, "Oh, Elsie, will ye no give me one kiss afore I +dee?" + +And Elsie lifted up her fair face, which had been covered with her +hands, and bending down, kissed the dying lips. Then, with a look of +unutterable gladness and contentment, Geordie closed his eyes as if he +was going to sleep. + +Walter Campbell turned away for a moment, for, as he afterwards told one +of his shipmates, "It was more than a fellow could stand, and he didn't +mind confessing that he hadn't stood it." Presently he hurriedly joined +the little group again, determined that Geordie must yet hear before he +went away how his faithful words had, through God's grace burnt +themselves into a wayward heart, and set a dead soul on fire. But he +found that another Voice was falling on Geordie's ear, which was closed +to all earthly sounds now; even that greeting to faithful ones which +bids them enter into the joy of their Lord. + +And so the poor bruised body did lie in Mistress Gowrie's +woodruff-scented best bedroom, and among her snowy linen, that night +after all, but Geordie was not there; his home was henceforth in the +many mansions of the Father's house. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +AN OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW NAME + + +"Now, children, here we are at Kirklands, at last," said a lady with a +pleasant voice, to an eager-looking group of boys and girls, who were +clustering round her, in a large open travelling carriage, which had +just drawn up in front of an old gateway, and waited for admittance. + +"Kirklands at last," was re-echoed among the little party. The two boys +seated beside the coachman glanced round at the occupants of the inside +seats, feeling sure that, their higher position secured them superior +information, and shouted in chorus, "Mamma, mamma, Kirklands at last." + +"As if we didn't know that as well as you do," shouted back Willie, a +curly-headed little fellow, seated beside his mother, who had a secret +hankering after the higher place of his elder brothers, along with a +desire to prove to them that their position was in no way superior to +his own. + +The old gates closed behind them, and the carriage bowled swiftly along +the smooth avenue, with its branching elms overhead. The pleasant vistas +of green, on all sides, were very grateful to the eyes of the young +travellers, wearied with miles of a white dusty turnpike-road, on a hot +July afternoon. They looked with delighted gaze on the new fair scene, +and thought what happy evenings they would have among those green glades +during the long summer days. + +But there was one of the party to whom this scene was not new, but old +and familiar, written over with many memories, some well-nigh overlaid +in the turmoil of life, but which flickered up with new vividness as she +looked on the calm sunlighted scene, and thought of other days. The +years had brought many changes to her, and it was with mingled feelings +that she gazed on this unchanged spot. Each grey-lichened rock stood out +from the mossy floor with a face that was familiar; all the little +winding woodland paths, she knew where they led to, and could take the +children to many a nook where wild flowers and delicate green ferns +still loved to grow, at they did long ago when she used to gather them +in these woods. + +"Seventeen years ago! is it possible?" she murmured, as she leaned back +in a corner of the carriage, and thought of the many leaves in the book +of her life which had been folded-down since she took farewell of these +green glades in her girlish days. And as she sits, quietly thinking, +while the little group round her are making the green aisles resound +with their merry laughter, we fancy, as we glance at her face, that it +is one we have seen before in this valley. The "stealthy day by day" has +certainly done its work; the outline of Grace's cheek is sharper than it +used to be, and the eager, speaking eyes have lost somewhat of their +fire, but there is a calm gladness in their gaze as she glances at the +joyous faces round her, that speaks of lessons learnt, and sorrows past, +during chequered days which have lain between the autumn evening, when +we saw her last, and this July afternoon, when she is coming with her +"two bands" to the home of her girlhood. + +Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, had passed away from this world during that +autumn seventeen years ago, and Grace had never revisited Kirklands +since. Walter, to whom it belonged, was still a naval officer. His home +on the sea had still more fascination for him than the inland beauties +of Kirklands, which had been left to strangers during the intervening +years. + +For some time past it had stood empty and tenantless, and Walter had +suggested that his sister, who had just come from a long sojourn abroad, +should, with her children, take up her abode there. Her husband, Colonel +Foster, was still on foreign service; and Grace, who longed to see the +old home after all her wanderings, had readily agreed to go with her +little flock and introduce them to the spot which was their dreamland of +romance, the historic ground of all the pleasantest stories in their +mother's mental library, often ransacked for their benefit. + +Mrs. Foster's servants were already at Kirklands, making preparations +for the arrival. The old rooms were being opened up once again, and +shafts of golden sunlight streamed through the long-darkened windows, on +the dark-panelled walls, as if to herald joyously the good news that +"life and thought" were coming back to the deserted house. + +As the carriage followed the windings of the avenue, the grey gables of +the old mansion began to peep through the green boughs, their first +appearance being announced by a jubilant chorus from the elder boys on +the box, which made little Willie feel painfully that his range of +vision was far from satisfactory. Presently, however, the timeworn walls +could be seen by all the party, as the carriage wheeled round the old +terrace, and the travellers reached the end of their journey. Then eager +feet began to trot up and down the grass-grown steps, and climb on the +old carved railing, where the griffins fascinated little Grace by their +stony stare, as they used to do her mother years ago. The long-silent +corridors began to resound with joyous laughter, as the merry party +rambled through the old rooms, wishing to identify each place with +historical recollections, founded on their mother's and Uncle Walter's +stories. And was that really the tree that Uncle Walter made believe to +be the rigging of a ship, and one day fell from one of its highest +boughs? And where used they to keep their rabbits, and in what room did +they learn their lessons? These, and such questions, were generally +asked in chorus, to which their mother had to endeavour to reply, as she +wandered among the familiar rooms with her merry boys and girls. + +"Mamma, do you know what I should like to see best of all? Two things, +mamma," whispered little Grace, as she caught hold of her mother's +dress. + +"And what would my little girl like to see--the toys mamma used to play +with when she was a little girl like Gracie? I believe I've carried the +key of the chest where they lie buried about with me all these years;" +and Mrs. Foster began to look in the little basket she held in her hand +for a shining bunch of keys. + +"It wasn't the toys I meant, though I should like to see them very +much," replied the little girl, who was more timid and gentle than her +brothers and sisters, and generally required more encouragement to +unburden her small mind, "it is the room where you taught Geordie that I +want to see--and Geordie's grave among the heather." + +Some quick ears had caught a name that seemed to be a household word, +and louder voices said, as the boy's clustered round their mother, "Oh +yes, mamma, do show us where you taught Geordie and little Jean." + +So Grace led the way through the dim passages that had once frightened +little Jean, and whose gloom now made the small Grace cling close to her +mother's side. The still-room was dark and unopened, for the servants +had not thought it necessary to include it in their preparations. Grace +went to the window and undid the fastenings, and the yellow afternoon +sun streamed on the dusty wooden bench where Geordie, and Jean, and +Elsie used to sit. + +The merry voices were hushed for a moment, and the children looked in +awed silence into the little room, as if it had been a shrine. + +After they had gazed long and silently, and their mother went to fasten +the window again, she said, "Children, we will come here and read God's +Word on Sunday afternoons, as the little company you know about used to +do long ago; and I hope you will all listen to the Good Shepherd's +voice, and follow it as Geordie did;" and presently the children trooped +quietly away along the dark vaulted passages. + +There was no faithful Margery now to be trusted with everything, and +able to put things straight in the twinkling of an eye, as her young +mistress used to declare she alone was capable of doing, so Mrs. Foster +had some unpacking and arranging preliminaries to superintend before she +could join her eager little party out of doors. But when tea was over, +and the sun had begun to scatter its orange and crimson tints over the +Kirklands valley, Grace thought she would like to take a stroll among +some familiar places before the darkness came. + +After lingering on the old terrace for a little, she gathered her boys +and girls round her, and said she was going to take them across the +park. She wanted to visit a place she remembered well, a pleasant angle +of a rising glade of birches, where she once stood mourning over the +traces of an uprooted cottage. But Grace knew that another home had +grown on the ruins of the former dwelling, and to it she bent her steps +now, for there was one of its inmates whom she longed to see. There was +something of the mingled feeling of interest and romance with which her +children wore viewing these now yet familiar scenes, in Grace's desire +to look on a face she had not seen for many years. Its image would rise +before her, chubby, smiling, and childlike, as of old; and then she +remembered the evening when she had first seen it tear-stained and sad, +as she crossed this path with the little fat hand in hers, as her own +Grace's was now. + +But Joan had not shed many tears since then. There was no happier home +in all the valley than the white cottage, over which the birch-trees +lovingly stretched their delicate fringes, her husband, the village +carrier, used to think when he came within sight of it, after his day's +journey was over, his parcels all delivered, and his horses "suppered" +for the night. Generally his bright-looking wife was hovering near the +door, waiting his coming with a little group round her as merry as the +one that was now making the woods of Kirklands ring with their +light-hearted laughter. + +Grace had not told the children that she meant to take them to see +little Jean that evening. She wanted first to go alone to the cottage +and see her quietly there, for she had many things to hear and ask. +Still, Grace had not been altogether a stranger to the home life there. +Sometimes a letter, written and addressed with laborious carefulness, +had followed her to remote foreign stations, and brought pleasant +memories of dewy heather and fragrant birches as she read it among +waving oleanders and palms. During all those years Grace had watched +over Jean's welfare, and many things in her pretty home told of her +thoughtful remembrance of Geordie's sister. + +[Illustration: Old Scenes Revisited.] + +The arrival of the family at Kirklands had taken place a few days +earlier than was intended, so Jean had not happened to hear the news, +and was all unconscious of the pleasure in store for her. How often she +had longed to see the "young leddy of Kirklands," as she still called +her, how many times she said to her husband that she would be sure to +know her anywhere, though it was so many years since she had looked +into her face. But now, as Jean sat matron-like with her sewing, in +front of her cottage, while her children played near, she wondered what +"strange lady" could be coming along the path. She called her straying +little ones to her, in case they should be in the way, but she noticed +that the stranger did not seem to think so, for she had just stopped +kindly to stroke one little flaxen head, and Jean, with a mother's +pride, felt grateful that "her bairn should be respeckit among the +rest." But when the lady, still holding the little boy's hand, began to +climb the mossy bank, and came towards her, Jean thought she had surely +seen that face before. Though not till Grace had smiled, and said, +holding out her hand, "Jean, is it possible you do not know me?" did she +recognise her old teacher. + +"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, Miss Cam'ell!" she said, with a cry of delight as she +dropped her mending and rose to meet her. "Is it really yourself? I +canna believe my verra eyes." + +And when Grace gazed questioningly into the serene, beaming face of the +little matron, she saw it had kept all that was best of its childish +lineaments, and felt with thankful gladness that Geordie's Shepherd had +not forgotten little Jean. Meanwhile the little loitering party came +along the road, and seeing their mother engaged in conversation beside +the pretty cottage door, they were eager to know who of all the old +friends she was talking to. Willie was the first to clamber up the mossy +bank and reach the cottage. The others were following, when he joined +them with an expression of mingled interest and disappointment on his +face. + +"I say Walter--Grace,--can you guess who mamma is speaking to? Well, +it's Geordie's sister,--little Jean." + +Then they all crept shyly near their mother while she talked at the +cottage door, glancing with interest at the inmate. But when little +Grace could find an opportunity she whispered in a tone of +disappointment, "Oh, mamma, is it really true what Willie says?" and +then she added with a sigh, when Willie's news had been confirmed, "Oh, +I'm so sorry; I do wish she could have stayed a little girl." + +Her mother smiled at the childish idea; but she presently remembered +that it was as the little herd-boy Geordie's image still lived in her +memory, though nearly twenty summers had come and gone since he entered +on that life in which earthly days and years are merged into eternity, +where the old and feeble renew their strength, and the young grow wiser +than the wisest hero. + +Grace's boys and girls had all to be introduced by name to the smiling +little matron, whose eye rested on them more or less appreciatively, as +she recognised a likeness to their mother or their Uncle Walter. + +Presently Grace turned to the little group, and said softly, "Children, +would you like to come to the knolls of heather on the other side of the +hill? I am going there now." + +"Oh yes, mamma, I want to go," chimed an eager though subdued chorus of +voices; and then the childish feet followed the two mothers as they +wandered slowly through the birch trees and crossed the path which led +to the stepping-stones. The water still splashed and gurgled noisily +round them, and the knolls of heather stretched with unchanged contour +on the other side. Beyond rose the white gables and thatched roof of the +old farm of Gowrie; but the former master and mistress were gone now; +and the young farmer, who had taken the lease, chafed considerably that +he had not been able to include the bit of heathery pasture lands in the +fields, seeing it had been previously secured by another tenant. It was +the only piece of land owned by Grace in the valley, and through all +these years of absence she had jealously guarded any encroachment upon +her territory. Old Gowrie had, at her earnest request, relinquished his +right to that portion of his domain in her favour, for he ceased to +wish to make it one of his economies to have his cattle grazing there. + +So it happened that though the pastoral valley had considerably changed +its face, and had much of its ruggedness smoothed away in the course of +years, this stretch of heather remained unreclaimed. It was still a +thoroughfare, but a very safe one now, for its only dwelling was a +grave. + +On the day after Geordie's death Grace had gone to see the last +resting-place destined for him in the little village churchyard. It was +a dreary patch of ground which looked as if the suns ray's never +penetrated through its high walls on the graves below. Crumbling +grey-lichened headstones peeped dismally from among the long dank grass, +and the little paths were overgrown with weeds. Everywhere there were +traces of unloving carelessness of the dead. And though Grace knew full +well that the silent sleepers below little heeded this selfish +forgetfulness, these surroundings sent a chill to her heart. She thought +she should like all that was left here of her boy-friend to lie in +pleasanter places. Far better he should rest underneath the heathery +sod among the pleasant breezy knolls, consecrated by many a heavenward +thought of the lonely little herd-boy, and by faithful words spoken in +an accepted time to a wayward brother's heart. So Grace made her suit to +the old farmer at a time when his heart was softened, and he was not +unwilling to part with a spot written over with a stinging memory. Miss +Hume, without even consulting Mr. Graham, had agreed to the transfer of +the land; and so it happened that Grace, like the patriarch long ago, a +stranger and sojourner in the land, held as a possession a +burying-place. + +The bright summer day had reached its dying hour when the little group +stood on the bank of the river. The yellow sunlight was merging into +deep orange and crimson, tinging with a wonderful variety of tints the +lower landscape. The rippling water looked as if a sudden cross current +of red wine had come flowing into it, and the little hillocks beyond, +golden with gorse, were steeped in the mellow light. + +The children followed their mother and Jean, with awed faces and hushed +voices, along the little gleaming sheep-walk, fringed by sweet wild +thyme and dog violets, with tendrils of deerhorn moss flinging their +arms across the path. At length they came on a little marble slab, by +the side of one of the knolls. The last golden shafts of sunlight were +stealing over its memorial words, and the young eyes read in silence:-- + + IN MEMORY OF + + GEORDIE BAXTER, + + Who went to the Fold above on the + 7th of August, 185--. + + "The Lord is my Shepherd; + I shall not want." + + +Presently, the silent group heard footsteps behind, and when Grace +glanced round she saw a woman, with two little boys by her side, coming +along the little path towards the headstone. She stopped suddenly when +she saw the strangers, evidently surprised by the unusual presence of +visitors in that unfrequented spot, and, turning down another path, went +away in the opposite direction. "Who is that, Jean?" asked Mrs. Foster; +"surely I have seen the face before." + +"Dear heart, do ye not know her? It's Elsie Gray. We dinna think, John +and me, that her bonnie face is much changed; but then we see it every +day," Jean replied, looking fondly after the retreating figure. + +"Ah, is it really Elsie? I was just going to ask about her, Jean. But +who are those children with her? I thought you told me in one of your +letters that she lived quite alone?" asked Grace, stooping down to pluck +a bluebell from Geordie's grave, instead of hurrying after this old +friend, as the little Grace expected her mother to do. + +Then the little matron went on to narrate how Elsie's home was still the +forester's pretty cottage, though her father and mother were both dead. +She had never been married, which Jean remarked was a great pity, and +hinted that a good many other people were of her opinion. But how the +parish of Kirklands could ever have got on without her if she had gone +away, or what life would be if she had not Elsie to go to in every joy +and sorrow, Jean could not imagine, as she said she frequently remarked +to "her John." Nobody's hands seemed to be fuller of helpful work, and +nobody did it more cheerily, than Elsie Gray. + +Then Jean explained that the two little boys were orphans whom she had +taken to her comfortable home; and "it wasn't the first pair o' laddies +she had made good for something," Jean added, admiringly. + +"Oh, mamma, don't you want to speak to her? She has such a nice, +beautiful face. Do let me run after her, and ask her to stop for a +minute," said little Grace, eagerly. + +Mrs. Foster glanced musingly across the knolls at Elsie's slender +figure, as she sauntered peacefully home with her charge, and then she +said, "No, my dear, we shall not trouble Elsie to-night; but I shall +take you with me to see her in her own home to-morrow, if you wish it. I +shall be going there." + +The cold, grey light was beginning to steal over the woods of Kirklands, +and the rosy tints that still hovered about the knolls would soon give +place to the gloom of night, so Grace gathered her little party, and +turned her steps towards the river. + +The merry voices, hushed for a time, began again to resound through the +still evening air, and the children went hurrying on with Jean, who had +told them she must be going home to see after the milking of her cows, +and cordially responded to their wish to join her at the process. + +So Grace had been following slowly, and when she crossed the +stepping-stones, she looked lingeringly back, for, with the sound of the +rippling water had come the remembered echoes of Geordie's voice as she +heard it first. Then she called to mind the chilly spring day when she +had started on the search, pronounced so hopeless by old Adam the +gardener, and how gleefully she hailed the unexpected appearance of the +little herd-boy. She smiled as she remembered the childish eagerness +that made her fear that he would not appear at Kirklands, as he had +promised, and his rather reproachful reply that he "Aye keepit his +trysts." And then there rose mingled memories of those trysts, which be +had so faithfully kept in the little still-room, of her own childish +incapacity for the work she had so longed to do, and of the sense of +failure that hung over it so long. + +And as she turned to follow her merry boys, who were clambering up the +mossy bank, where the silvery bark of the old birch-trees were still +streaked with rosy sunset hues, she felt how much she had learnt from +the tender, earnest heart of Geordie. + + "And comforted, she praised the grace + Which him had led to be, + An early seeker of that Face + Which he should early see." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Geordie's Tryst, by Mrs. Milne Rae + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12765 *** diff --git a/12765-h/12765-h.htm b/12765-h/12765-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..a9987fa --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/12765-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2526 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Geordie'S Tryst + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + div {text-align: center;} + img {width: 350px} + + * { font-family: Times, sans-serif;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + H3 {font-style: italic} + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* block indent */ + // --> + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12765 ***</div> + +<h1>GEORDIE'S TRYST</h1> +<br> + + + + +<h2>A TALE OF SCOTTISH LIFE.</h2> +<br> + +<h2>[Attributed to Mrs. Milne Rae]</h2> + + +<div> <img src="images/003.png" alt="TITLE PAGE"> </div> + + + + +<div> + +<H2>TABLE OF CONTENTS </H2> + +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I. GRACE CAMPBELL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II. THE SEARCH.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III. THE FIRST SCHOLARS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV. ELSIE GRAY.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V. HOW GEORDIE'S HERDING CAME TO AN END.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI. AND OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW NAME.</b></a><br> + +</div> + +<div> <img src="images/002.png" alt="GEORDIE'S HERDING ENDED."> </div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a><h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>GRACE CAMPBELL.</h3> + +<img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 250px" src="images/005.png" alt="IT"> + +<br> + +<p>was a chilly Scotch spring day. The afternoon sun glistened with +fitful, feeble rays on the windows of the old house of Kirklands, and +unpleasant little gusts of east wind came eddying round its ancient +gables, and sweeping along its broad walks and shrubberies, sending a +chill to the hearts of all the young green things that were struggling +into life.</p> + +<p>On the time-worn steps of the grey mansion there stood a girl, cloaked +and bonneted for a walk, notwithstanding the uninviting weather.</p> + +<p>"It's a fule's errand, I assure ye, Miss Grace, and on such an +afternoon, too. I've been askin' at old Adam the gardener, and he says +there isna one o' the kind left worth mindin' in all the valley o' +Kirklands. So do not go wanderin' on such an errand in this bitter wind, +missy."</p> + +<p>The speaker was an old woman, standing in the doorway, glancing with an +expression of kindly anxiety towards the girl, who leant on one of the +carved griffins of the old stone railing.</p> + +<p>Grace had been looking at the speaker with troubled eyes as she listened +to her remonstrance, and now she said, meditatively, "Does old Adam +really say so, Margery?" Then with a quick gesture she turned to go down +the steps, adding cheerily, "Well, there's no harm in trying, and as for +the wind, that doesn't matter a bit. It's what Walter would call a nice +breezy day. I'm really going, nursie. Shut the door, and keep your old +self warm. I shall be home again by the time aunt has finished her +afternoon's sleep." And Grace turned quickly away, not in the direction +of the sheltered elm avenue, but across the park, by the path which led +most quickly beyond the grounds. Presently she slackened her pace, and +turning for a moment she glanced rather ruefully towards the high walls +of the old garden, as if prudence dictated that she should seek fuller +information there, before she set out on this search, which she had +planned that afternoon. The old nurse's words on the subject seemed to +have sent a chilling gust to her heart, harder to bear than the bitter +spring wind. Old Adam certainly knew the countryside better than anybody +else, she pondered, and he seemed to have given it as his decision that +she would not find her search successful.</p> + +<p>Was it a rare plant growing in the valley that Grace was in search of? +Then, surely, the gardener was right; she should wait till the warm +sunshine came, and the south winds wafted sweet scents about, leading to +where the pleasant flowers grow among the cozy moss. Or did she mean to +go to the green velvety haughs of the winding river to get her +fishing-rod and tackle into working order at the little boat-house, and +try to tempt some unwary trout to eat his last supper, as she and her +brother Walter used to do in sunny summer evenings long ago?</p> + +<p>These had been very pleasant days, and their lingering memories came +hovering round Grace as she stood once again among the familiar haunts, +after an absence of years. Echoes of merry ringing tones, in which her +own mingled, seemed to resound through the wooded paths, where only the +parching wind whistled shrilly to-day, and a boyish voice seemed still +to call impatiently under the lozenge-paned window of the old +school-room, "Gracie, Gracie, are you not done with lessons yet? Do come +out and play." And how dreary "Noel and Chapsal" used to grow all of a +sudden when that invitation came, and with what relentless slowness the +hands of the old clock dragged through the lesson-hour still to run.</p> + +<p>But the quaint old window has the shutters on it now, and the eager face +that used to seek his caged playmate through its bars is looking out on +new lands from his wandering home at sea. The little girl, too, who used +to sit in the dim school-room seems to hear other voices calling to her +this afternoon.</p> + +<p>And while Grace stands hesitating whether, after all, it might be wise +to go into the garden to hear what old Adam has to say before she +proceeded to the high road, we shall try to find what earnest quest sent +her out this afternoon, in spite of her old nurse's remonstrances and +the east wind.</p> + +<p>Grace Campbell's father and mother died when she was very young, and +since then her home had been with her aunt. For the last few years Miss +Hume had been so infirm that she did not feel able to undertake the +journey to Kirklands, a small property in the north of Scotland, which +she inherited from her father. Her winter home was Edinburgh, and Miss +Hume for some years had only ventured on a short journey to the nearest +watering-place, while her country home stood silent and deserted, with +only the ancient gardener and his wife wandering about through the +darkened rooms and the old garden, with its laden fruit-trees and its +flowers run to seed. But, to Grace's great delight, her aunt had +announced some months before that if she felt strong enough for the +journey, she meant to go to Kirklands early in the spring. It seemed as +if in her fading autumnal time she longed to see the familiar woods and +dells of her childhood's home grow green again with returning life. So +the darkened rooms had been opened to the sun again, and on the day +before our story begins, some of the former inmates had taken possession +of them.</p> + +<p>The three years during which Grace had been absent from Kirklands had +proved very eventful to her in many ways. There had been some changes in +her outer life. Walter, her only brother and playmate, had left home to +go to sea. They had only had one passing visit from him since, so +changed in his midshipman's dress, with his broadened shoulders and +bronzed face, and so full of sailor life and talk, that his playmate had +hardly composure of mind to discover till he was gone that the same +loving heart still beat under the blue dress and bright buttons. And +while she thought of him with a new pride, she felt an undercurrent of +sadness in the consciousness that the pleasant threads of daily +intercourse had been broken, and the old childish playfellow had passed +away.</p> + +<p>But as the golden gate of childhood thus closed on Grace Campbell, +another gate opened for her which led to pleasant places. It had, +indeed, been waiting open for her ever since she came into the world, +though she had often passed it by unheeded. But at last there came to +Grace a glimpse of the shining light which still guides the way of +seeking souls to "yonder wicket gate." She began to feel an intense +longing to enter there and begin that new life to which it leads. She +knocked, and found that it was open for her, and entering there she met +the gracious Guide who had beckoned her to come, whispering in the +silence of her heart, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Not long +after Grace had begun to walk in this path, an event happened which +proved to her like the visit to the "Interpreter's House" in the +Pilgrim's story; but in order to explain its full eventfulness, we must +go back to tell of earlier days in her aunt's home.</p> + +<p>On Sunday mornings Grace usually drove with her aunt to church in +decorous state. When Walter was at home he made one of the carriage +party, though generally under protest, declaring that it would be "ever +so much jollier to walk than to be bowled along in that horrid old +rumble," as he used irreverently to designate his aunt's rather antique +chariot. When they arrived at church, the children followed their aunt's +slow steps to one of the pews in the gallery, where Miss Hume used to +take the precautionary measure of separating them by sending Grace to +the top of the seat, and placing herself between the vivacious Walter +and his playmate. Notwithstanding this precaution, they generally +contrived to find comfortable recreative resources during the service, +bringing all their inventive energy to bear on creating new diversions +as each Sunday came round. There was always their Aunt Hume's fur cloak +to stroke the wrong way, if there was nothing more diverting within +reach; had it only been the cat, whose sentiments regarding a like +treatment of her fur were too well known to Walter, he felt that the +pleasure would have been greater. Sometimes, indeed, the amusements were +of a strictly mental nature, conducted in the "chambers of imagery." +Miss Hume would feel gratified by the stillness of posture and the +earnest gaze in her nephew's eyes. They were certainly not fixed +directly on the preacher, but surely the boy must be listening, or he +would never be so quiet. Grace, however, was in the secret, and knew +better. Walter had confided to her that he had got such "a jolly +make-believe" to think about in church. The great chandelier which hung +from the centre of the church ceiling, with its poles, and chains, and +brackets, was transformed in his imagination to a ship's mast and +rigging, where he climbed and swung, and performed marvellous feats, +also in imagination, be it understood. And so it happened that Grace +could guess where her brother's thoughts were when he sat gazing +dreamily at the huge gilded chandelier of the city church.</p> + +<p>Other imaginings had sometimes grown round it for Grace when it was all +lit up in the short winter days at afternoon service, and queer lights +and shadows fell on the gilded cherubs that decorated it, till their +wings seemed to move and hover over the heads of the congregation. To +Grace's childish mind they had been the embodiment of angels ever since +she could remember; and even long after childish things were put away +there remained a strange link between her conception of angelic beings +and those burnished cherubs whose serene, shining faces looked down +benignantly over the drowsy congregation on dark winter afternoons.</p> + +<p>But all these imaginings certainly came under the catalogue of +"wandering thoughts," from which the old minister always prayed at the +opening of the service that they might be delivered. So it is to be +feared that the sermon had not even the chance of the wayside seed in +the parable of sinking into the children's hearts. The words of her +aunt's old minister had as yet proved little more than an outside sound +to Grace, though she was in the habit of listening more observantly than +her brother. But there came a day when, amidst those familiar +surroundings, with the molten cherubs looking serenely down on her, she +heard words which made her heart burn within her, and kindled a flame +which lasted as long as life.</p> + +<p>It was on a Sunday afternoon in November, not long after Walter left. +Miss Hume was ailing, and unable to go to church, so it was arranged +that Margery should accompany Grace. The old nurse attended the same +church, and Grace had been in the habit of going under her wing when her +aunt was obliged to remain at home. The walk to church through the +crowded streets was a pleasant change, and Grace was in high spirits +when she ensconced herself at the top of Margery's seat—which was a +much better observatory than her aunt's pew—where every thing could be +seen that was interesting and amusing within the four walls. Besides, +there were small amenities connected with a seat in nurse's pew which +had great attractions for Grace when she was a little girl, and had +still a lingering charm for her. In the pew behind there sat a worthy +couple, friends of Margery, who exchanged friendly salutations with her +on Sunday, always including a kindly nod of recognition to her charges +if they happened to be with her. Then, at a certain juncture in the +service, the worthy tinsmith, for that was his calling, would hand +across the book-board his ancient silver snuff-box, of the contents of +which he himself partook freely and noisily. Of course, Margery only +used it politely, after the manner of a scent-bottle; and then Grace +came in for her turn of it, with a warning glance from nurse to beware +of staining her hat-strings, or any other serious effects from the +odorous powder. If Walter happened to be invited to enjoy the +privilege, he always contrived to secrete a deposit of the snuff between +his finger and thumb, being most anxious to imitate the tinsmith's +accomplishment. He was, however, afraid to make his first essay in +church, in case of sneezing symptoms, and before he had a chance of a +quiet moment to make the experiment when they left the pew, he used +generally to be caught by Margery, and summoned to put on his glove like +a gentleman, and any resistance was sure to end in the discovery and +loss of the precious pinch of snuff. Then the tinsmith's wife had also +her own congenial resources for comfort during service, which she +delighted to share with her neighbours. Grace used to receive a little +tap on the shoulder, and, on looking round, a box of peppermint lozenges +lay waiting her in the old woman's fat palm. These were very homely +little interchanges of friendship, but they made part of the happy +childish world to Grace, and years after, when the old pew knew her no +more, and she asked admittance to it as a stranger, she glanced round in +the vain hope of catching a glimpse of the broad, shining, kindly faces +of the old couple, feeling that to see them in their place would bring +back many pleasanter bygone associations than snuff and peppermint +lozenges.</p> + +<p>On this Sunday afternoon Grace perceived that there was something out of +the ordinary routine in prospect. The pews were filling more quickly +than they usually did. Strangers were gathering in the passage, and a +general flutter of excitement and expectation seemed everywhere to +prevail.</p> + +<p>"What is going to happen, I wonder, Margery?" whispered Grace, +impatiently; and presently the tinsmith leant across the book-board and +kindly volunteered the information that they were going to have a +"strange minister the night, and a special collection for some +new-fangled thing."</p> + +<p>And then Grace turned towards the pulpit in time to see the "strange +minister," who had just entered it. He was a tall man, of a stately +though easy presence, with grace and life in every gesture. As she +looked at him Grace Campbell was reminded of an historical scene, a +picture of which hung in the old hall at Kirklands, of a mixed group of +Cavaliers and Puritans. This preacher seemed in his appearance curiously +to combine the varied characteristics of both the types of men in these +portraits. That graceful flexibility of tone and movement, the high +forehead and waving locks, surely belong to the gallant old Cavalier, +but there is something of the stern Puritan too. The resoluteness of +the firm though mobile mouth betokens a strength of moral purpose, which +does not belong to the caste of the mere court gentleman; about those +delicately-cut nostrils there dwells a possibility of quivering +indignation, and in the eyes that are looking broodingly down on the +congregation true pathos and keen humour are strangely blended.</p> + +<p>Presently the deep, flexible voice, which had the soul of music in its +tones, re-echoed through the church as he called the people to worship +God, and read some verses of an old psalm. Familiar as the words were to +Grace, they seemed as he read them to have a new meaning, to be no +longer seven verses with queer, out-of-the-way expressions, that had +cost her trouble to learn as a Sunday evening's task, but a beautiful, +real prayer to a God that was listening, and would hear, as the "strange +minister's" voice pealed out,—</p> + +"Lord, bless and pity us,<br> +Shine on us with Thy face;<br> +That the earth Thy way, and nations all<br> +May know Thy saving grace."<br> + +<p>And when the sermon came, and the preacher began to talk in thrilling +words of that saving health which the Great Healer of souls had died to +bring to all nations, Grace felt the reality of those unseen, eternal +things of which he spoke as she had never done before. Then there were +interspersed with those faithful, burning words for God beautiful +illustrations from nature, which fascinated the little girl's +imagination, as she sat gazing, not at the gilded cherubs to-night, but +on the benignant, earnest face of the speaker. He surely must have been +a sailor, or he could never have known so well what a storm at sea was +like, she thought, as she listened, spell-bound, feeling as if she was +looking out on the angry sea, with the helpless wrecking ships tossing +upon the waves; but then in another moment he took them into the thick +of some ancient battle, where the brave-hearted "nobly conquering lived +or conquering died;" or it was to some fair, pastoral scene, and then +the preacher seemed to know so well all the delights of heathery hills +and pleasant mossy glades, that Grace thought he certainly must have +been at Kirklands and wandered among its woods and braes. And into each +of his wonderful photographs he wove many holy, stirring thoughts of +God, and of those "ways" of his that may be known upon the earth, of +which they had been singing.</p> + +<p>Presently the preacher began to talk of what the worthy tinsmith had +called the "new-fangled scheme," for which, he said, he stood there to +plead that evening. He had come to ask help for the little outcast city +children. It was before the days when School Boards were born or thought +of that this gallant-hearted man sought to move the feelings and rouse +the consciences of men on behalf of those who seemed to have no helper. +It was for aid to establish schools for those destitute children, where +they might be clothed and fed as well as educated, that he went on to +plead. Grace sat entranced, listening to the preacher, as with the +"flaming swords of living words, he fought for the poor and weak." Never +before in the course of her narrow, sheltered child-life had she, even +in imagination, been brought face to face with the manifold wants and +woes of her poorer brothers and sisters, or understood the service to +which the Son of Man summons all his faithful followers: "Is it not to +deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast +out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and +that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"</p> + +<p>It seemed to Grace, when the preacher had ceased, as if a new world of +loving work and of duty stretched before her; for could she not become +one of that band whom the preacher called in such thrilling words to +enroll themselves in this service of love?</p> + +<p>When the eloquent voice paused, and the congregation began to sing +again, Grace still felt the words sounding like trumpet-notes in her +heart. How she longed to ask the minister to take her to those courts +and alleys, and to tell her in what way she might best help those +neglected ones. How many plans coursed through her eager little brain +for their succour. But the preacher had said he wanted money for their +help; a collection was to be made before they left the church.</p> + +<p>Grace's store of pocket-money was slender, and, moreover, was not in her +pocket now. How gladly would she have emptied her little silken purse, +if she had only had it with her; but, alas! it lay uselessly in her +drawer at home. Her conventional penny had been put into the plate at +the door, as she came into church, and Grace thought ruefully that she +had nothing—nothing to give to help these poor forsaken ones, whose +hard lot had so touched her heart. Just then, however, she happened to +raise her hand to her neck, and was reminded of an ornament which she +always wore, the only precious thing she possessed. It was an +old-fashioned locket, with rows of pearls round it, and in the centre a +baby lock of her own hair, which her mother used to wear. Her Aunt Hume +had some time ago taken it out of the old jewel-case which awaited her +when Grace was old enough to be trusted with its contents, and given it +to her to wear, so it was her very own. But was not this a worthy +occasion for bringing of one's best and most precious things? Might not +this pearl locket help to bring some little outcast waif into paths of +pleasantness and peace? Yes, the locket should be given to the special +collection, Grace resolved; but it might not be wise, to divulge the +intention to Margery, who had already replied, when she was asked by +Grace if she could lend her any money, that nobody would expect a +collection from such a young lady.</p> + +<p>When the crowd moved away from the passage, and began to scatter, +Margery and her charge left the old pew in the highest gallery and +prepared to go down the great staircase which led to the entrance door. +Near the door there stood two elders of the church, with metal plates in +their hands, waiting for the offerings of the congregation. Grace had +been holding hers tightly in her hand, having untied it from her neck +and slipped the ribbon in her pocket, and now she laid it gently among +the silver, and the pennies, and the Scotch bank-notes, hoping that it +might slip unobserved between one of the crumpled notes, and so escape +the detective glance of Margery's quick eyes. But her hope was vain. +Nurse caught sight of the pearls gleaming pure and white among the other +offerings: "Missy, what have you done? Your locket! your mamma's +beautiful pearl locket! Did I ever see the like? It's a mistake, sir. +Miss Campbell could not have meant it," she said, turning to the elder, +with her hand raised to recapture it.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Margery, it is not a mistake; I meant to put it there," replied +Grace in an eager whisper, as she pulled her nurse's shawl, glancing +timidly at the elder, as if she feared he was going to conspire with +Margery, and that, after all, her offering would be rejected.</p> + +<p>"Missy! are you mad? What will your aunt say? Really, sir, will you be +so kind?"—and Margery did not finish her sentence, but looked piteously +at the elder, who was glancing at the little girl with a kindly, though +questioning expression in his eyes, saying presently:</p> + +<p>"You may have your locket back, if you wish it, my child. Perhaps you +have given it hastily, and may regret it afterwards, and we would not +like to have your jewel in these circumstances."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, sir," Margery was beginning to say, in a grateful tone, +when Grace interrupted her.</p> + +<p>"No, please don't, sir, I will not take it back. It was my very own, and +I have given it to God, to use for these poor, sad boys and girls," +Grace added, in a tremulous tone.</p> + +<p>Then the old elder looked at Margery, and said, "My friend, I cannot +help you further. Neither you nor I have anything to do with this gift; +it is between the giver and the Receiver."</p> + +<p>There was something solemn in his tone which kept the still indignant +Margery from saying more, and she prepared to move away with her charge. +But, as she turned to go, she caught a glimpse of her acquaintance the +tinsmith, who was in the act of dropping into the plate a crumpled +Scotch bank-note, which he held in his broad palm.</p> + +<p>"Bless me, they're all going daft together," muttered Margery, with +uplifted hands, as she hurried away. "It was a very good discourse, no +doubt, but to think of folk strippin' themselves like that—a pun'-note, +forsooth, near the half of the week's work; the man's gone clean +demented."</p> + +<p>But the tinsmith's serene, smiling face showed no sign of any aberration +of intellect, and Margery took Grace's hand, and hurried her through the +crowd, resolved that she should not, for another instant, stand by and +countenance such reckless expenditure.</p> + +<p>Grace was conscious that her old nurse was still possessed by a strong +feeling of disapproval regarding her donation, so she rather avoided +conversation; besides, she had a great deal to think about as she walked +along the crowded lamp-lit streets by Margery's side.</p> + +<p>At last they reached the quiet square where Miss Hume lived, and as they +crossed the grass-grown pavement and went up the steps to the house, +Grace glanced up to the curtained window of her aunt's sitting-room, and +suddenly remembered, with a feeling of discomfort, that Miss Hume must +presently be told of the destination of her locket; if not by herself, +certainly by Margery, who had just heaved a heavy sigh, and was +evidently girding herself up for the painful duty of narrating the +strange behaviour of her charge.</p> + +<p>"Now, Margery, I'm going to auntie, to tell her about the locket, this +very minute, so you need not trouble about it," said Grace, as she ran +quickly upstairs to her aunt's room and closed the door.</p> + +<p>Margery never knew exactly what passed, nor how Miss Hume's +well-regulated mind was ever reconciled to such an impulsive act on the +part of her niece. But, as she sat at her usual post by the old lady +next day, while she took her afternoon's rest, Miss Hume said rather +unexpectedly, when Margery concluded she was asleep, "Margery, you +remember my sister? Does it not strike you that Miss Campbell is getting +very like her mother? These children are a great responsibility to me; I +wish their mother had been spared," she added, rather irrelevantly, it +seemed to Margery, and then presently she fell asleep without any +reference to the locket question.</p> + +<p>But that night, when Grace was going to bed, she told her old nurse that +her aunt had promised that when they went back to Kirklands again she +might try to find some little boys and girls to teach, and that she +would allow her to have one of the old rooms for her class. She did not +tell how eagerly she had asked that, in the meantime, she might be +allowed to try and help the neglected city children, to whose +necessities she had been awakened by such thrilling words that day, +though Miss Hume had thought it wise to restrain her impatience. But +out of that evening's events had grown the cherished plan which sent +Grace on such a chilly afternoon among the woods and braes of Kirklands +to seek any boy or girl who might need her help and friendship.</p> + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/026.png" alt="End of Chapter I"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/027.png" alt="Chapter II"> </div> + +<h3>THE SEARCH</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/m.png" alt="M"> + +iss Hume, Grace's aunt, left the management of Kirklands entirely in +the hands of her business agent. Mr. Graham met the tenants, gathered +the rents, arranged the leases, and directed the improvements without +even a nominal interference on her part. And certainly he +conscientiously performed these duties with a view to his client's +interests. It may be wondered that Miss Hume did not take a more +personal interest in her tenants, but various things had contributed to +this state of matters. Indeed, she was now so infirm that it would have +been difficult for her to take any active interest in things around her, +especially as it had not been the habit of her earlier years to do so.</p> + +<p>It was her younger sister, Grace's mother, who used to know all the +dwellers in the valley so well that her white pony could calculate the +distance to the pleasant farmyard at which he would get his next +mouthful of crisp corn; or the muirland cottage, with its delicious bit +of turf, where he would presently graze, as he waited for his young +mistress, while she talked to the inmates. But if the little girl with +her white pony could have come back again to Kirklands, they would have +missed many a familiar face, and searched in vain for many a cottage. +The pleasant little thatched dwellings, with velvety tufts of moss +studding the roof, and pretty creepers climbing till they mingled with +the brown thatch, telling of the inmates' loving fingers, were all swept +away now, and in the place that once knew them, stretched trim drills of +turnips, fenced by grim stone walls, to which time had not yet given a +moss-covered beauty.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham had thought it wise for his client's interests to remove +those little "crofts," and merge their kailyards into productive fields; +so the dwellers in the greensward cottages had to wander townwards to +seek shelter and work in city courts and alleys. The land was now +divided into a few farms, on which stood imposing-looking houses, with +knockers and latch-keys to the doors, where the little girl and the +white pony would never have ventured to ask admittance, or cared to gain +it--where "nobody wanted nothin' from nobody," old Adam, the gardener, +had assured Margery, when she made anxious inquiries concerning the +prospect of Grace's search, and who hoped that this circumstantial +information might persuade her young mistress to abandon it.</p> + +<p>The prophecy that it was "a fule's errand" rang unpleasantly in Grace's +ear, as she crossed the park and climbed the rustic stiles which led to +the high road. It was true she knew that during the last three years +there had been many a "clearance" at Kirklands, for she remembered +having overheard Mr. Graham congratulating her aunt on the larger +returns owing to these improvements. But surely, she thought, there +might still be found some little cottages like those to which she heard +her mamma was so fond of going when she was a girl. Walter and she used +certainly, she remembered, often to see children with bare, dust-stained +feet on the road, when they happened to go beyond the grounds on a +fishing expedition, or down with their aunt through her lands; but her +brother had been an all-sufficient playmate, and Grace's interest in the +peasant children did not extend beyond a glance of curiosity. But now +how gladly would she gather a little company of them to tell them that +old sweet story, which had come to her own heart with such new strange +sweetness, during these winter days, though she had heard it ever since +she could remember. Grace hurried eagerly along the high road, looking +at every turn for traces of any lowly wayside dwellings. There used to +be a little clump of cottages here, she thought, as she stopped at a +bend of the road where there were traces of recent demolitions, and a +great field of green corn was evidently going to reclaim the waste +place, and presently swallow it up. Behind where the vanished cottages +had stood there stretched a glade of birch-trees, with their low twisted +stems rising from little knolls of turf so mossy and steep, that the +drills of turnips and potatoes could not possibly be ranged there +without destroying their symmetry, even though the crooked birch-trees +were to be swept away.</p> + +<p>Grace wandered among the budding trees, and through the soft springy +turf that was growing green again in spite of the bitter spring winds, +but she found no little native lurking among the birches, and was +disappointed to come to the other side of the wood much more quickly +than she expected, without the <i>détour</i> being of any practical use.</p> + +<p>The turf sloped away to a little stream that went singing cheerily over +sparkling pebbles, bubbling and foaming round the base of grey lichened +rocks, that reared their heads above the water, as if in angry +remonstrance at their daring to interfere with its progress. On the +opposite bank there stretched a bit of muirland pasture, studded with +little knolls of heather, growing green, in preparation for its richer +autumn tints. The pale spring sunlight began to grow more mellow in its +light at this afternoon hour; it glinted on the little gurgling stream, +lighted up the feathery birch glade, and lay in golden patches on the +opposite bank, where Grace noticed some cattle begin to gather on the +heathery knolls, as if they had come to enjoy the last hour of bright +sunshine. Perhaps some little cottages may be sheltered behind those +hillocks, Grace thought; and she began to examine how the grey rocks lay +among the water, and whether she could possibly find dry footing across +the stream. Presently she came upon a smooth row of stones, that were +evidently used as a thoroughfare. She had already begun to cross them, +keeping her eye cautiously fixed on the stepping-stones as she went +along, when she was startled by a voice which sounded close beside her. +On glancing round she saw on the opposite bank a boy standing with a +huge twisted cudgel in his hand, brandishing it in a warlike attitude. +He seemed to have suddenly appeared round one of the hillocks, and was +now shouting excitedly, in his rough northern dialect, as he waved his +stick:</p> + +<p>"Hold back, mem; hold back, I tell ye. Blackie is in one o' his ill +moods the day, and he's no safe. Dinna come a foot farther."</p> + +<p>Grace stood bewildered, balancing herself on the stepping-stones; the +apparition was so sudden that it almost took away her breath, and the +commands were so peremptory that she did not dare to disregard them by +going forward; but it seemed very hard to beat an ignominious retreat, +for here seemed to be just what she was in search of—a boy as +neglected-looking as any that were to be seen in the courts and alleys +of Edinburgh; of the very type which old Adam declared there was not one +to be found in all the lands of Kirklands. His head was bare, and his +flaxen hair so bleached by the sun that it looked quite white against +his bronzed face. He looked at Grace with a grave interest in his large +blue eyes, as if he would like to know a little more; but he still +brandished his cudgel before her, and shouted resolutely:</p> + +<p>"Hold back, or Blackie will be at ye."</p> + +<p>"But who is Blackie?" asked Grace, with a gasp, looking furtively round +in the direction of the birch wood, in case the said Blackie might be +approaching from behind.</p> + +<p>"Who's Blackie!" said the boy, repeating the question, as if to hold up +to ridicule the absurd ignorance which it implied. "Do ye no ken that +Blackie is Gowrie's bull—the ill-natertest bull in a' the +country-side?"</p> + +<p>"And what have you to do with Blackie?" asked Grace, glancing across to +the hillocks, where some cattle grazed inoffensively, in search of the +formidable animal.</p> + +<p>"I herd him—I'm Gowrie's herd-laddie. They're all terrible easy-managed +beasts but him, and he's full o' ill tricks. He can't bear woman-folks," +added the boy, with a slight mischievous twinkle in his eye; for he felt +more at his ease now, having assured himself that Blackie was much too +intent on some sweet blades of grass to give any trouble at that moment.</p> + +<p>"Gowrie! that's the old farm down in the hollow there, isn't it? And how +long have you been herding?" asked Grace, who still stood on the +stepping-stones, and pursued the conversation with the noisy little +stream babbling round her.</p> + +<p>"I was hired to Gowrie two year come Marti'mas, and afore that I herded +some sheep on the hill yonder. We had a hut all to oursels. I slept wi' +them a' night, and liked them terrible weel, a hantle better than the +cattle," and his eye wandered regretfully to a bleak mountain slope, +which had evidently pleasant associations for the little herd-boy.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever go to school?" asked Grace, anxious to introduce her +subject, for she thought she would like this boy for a scholar.</p> + +<p>"Ay, did I once, when I was a wee laddie. I was in the 'Third Primer,' +and could read pretty big words," and he fumbled in his jacket-pocket +for the collection of dog-eared leaves which represented his store of +learning.</p> + +<p>"Of course you can't go to school now on week days, when you have to +watch the cows; but perhaps you go to Sunday-school?" Grace asked; and +will it make her desire to do good appear very narrow and small, if it +must be confessed that she hoped to hear that he did not go to any? Her +mind was soon set at rest, however, for he presently replied:</p> + +<p>"The school at the kirk, ye mean? No; granny's dreadful deaf, and we +don't go to the kirk. I belong to Gowrie a' the week, but I'm granny's +on Sabbath; there's aye a deal to do, brakin' sticks and mendin' up +things, ye see."</p> + +<p>"And you really don't go to a Sunday-school?" exclaimed Grace, hardly +able to restrain her satisfaction at this piece of information. "But, +by-the-by, I have never asked your name. I should like to hear it, +because I hope we are going to be friends."</p> + +<p>"They call me Geordie Baxter," he replied, as he ran to check the +wanderings of one of the cows, while Grace stood watching him, as she +pondered how she might best frame an invitation asking him to be her +scholar. He seemed so manly and independent, though he was so young; +and, somehow, it was all so different from how she had planned her +finding of scholars. She had been looking for a cottage where the +tattered children might be crawling about the doorstep, making mudpies +and quarrelling with each other; and then she thought she would knock at +the door, after she had spoken to them for a little, and ask their +mother if she might have them to teach on Sunday. But this boy, ignorant +and neglected as he seemed to be, had certainly a manly dignity which +made Grace's invitations more difficult than she expected; though, after +all, he could only spell words of one syllable, and he went neither to +school nor to church. Surely he was the sort of scholar she had been in +search of. So when he returned to his former position opposite the +stepping-stones, after having admonished the straying cow—</p> + +<p>"Well, Geordie, I am going to ask you if you will come to Kirklands, +where I live, on Sunday afternoons; and since you do not go to any +school, I can read a little to you, and perhaps help you to learn +something?" said Grace, not venturing to be more explicit on what she +wished to teach. "Do you think you would like to come?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, would I," he replied, eagerly. "I'm terrible anxious to learn to +read the long words without spellin' them." And then he stopped and +looked hesitatingly at Grace. "Would ye take Jean, I wonder?" he said, +coming a few steps on the stones in his eagerness. "She's my sister, and +a good bit littler than me, and she can't read any, but I'm thinkin' she +could learn," he added, in a sanguine tone.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, certainly; I shall be so happy if you will bring your sister," +replied Grace, looking radiant, for she had; ust been thinking that +though Geordie was certainly a very valuable unit, he could hardly, in +his own person, make the "Sunday class" on which she had set her heart.</p> + +<p>"But I thought ye couldn't bear poor folk at Kirklands," said Geordie, +reflectively, glancing at Grace, after he had pondered over the +invitation. "Granny's aye frightened they will be takin' our housie from +us, as they have done from so many puir folk;" and then the boy stopped +suddenly, and a deep red flush rose under his bronzed cheek as he +remembered that he must be speaking to one of those same "Kirklands +folk."</p> + +<p>"Oh, your grandmother needn't be afraid of that. I am sure my aunt would +not wish to take away her home," replied Grace, hurriedly, also flushing +with vexation, and resolving that she would certainly listen with more +interest, if she happened to be present at the next interview, to Mr. +Graham's narratives concerning the improvements, seeing that they seemed +to involve the improving away of the natives off the face of the +country.</p> + +<p>Just then the sound of a horn came across the heather, and Geordie +started off, saying, "There's Gowrie's horn sounding; I must away and +gather home the kye." And he darted off across the hillocks in search of +his scattered charges, giving a succession of whoops and shrieks as he +brandished his cudgel and whirled about in the discharge of his duty, +quite ignoring Grace, who still stood on the stepping-stones, feeling +rather sorry that the interview had terminated so abruptly, for she +remembered a great many questions she would like to have asked.</p> + +<p>Presently Geordie, by dint of his exertions, managed to arrange the +cattle, with the formidable Blackie in front, in quite an orderly +procession, and he now prepared to move towards the farm, whose white +gables were visible from the pasture. He never looked back at Grace, or +gave any parting sign of recognition of her presence, and she began to +fear that perhaps after all he might forget about her invitation and +fail to appear on Sunday.</p> + +<p>"You won't forget to come to Kirklands on Sunday afternoon, Geordie?" +she called after him, trying to raise her voice above the noisy little +stream.</p> + +<p>"Didna I say that I would come and bring Jean? and I aye keep my +trysts," he shouted back again, with a look of indignant astonishment +that she should have imagined him capable of forgetting or failing to +keep his promise; and then he trudged away cheerily, swinging his stick, +more full of the idea of this "tryst" than Grace could guess, though his +mind dwelt chiefly on the thought of what a grand thing it would be for +little Jean to get a chance of learning to read. He was painfully +conscious that he had signally failed in his attempts to teach her, and +he was the only teacher she had ever had.</p> + +<p>In this little, unkempt, sun-bleached herd-boy there dwelt a very +tender, chivalrous heart, and on his little sister Jean all his wealth, +of affection had as yet been bestowed. Never did faithful knight serve +his lady-love more devotedly than Geordie had this little brown maiden, +since her earliest babyhood.</p> + +<p>They were orphans, and ever since they could remember their home had +been with their grandmother, a frail, dreamy old woman, so deaf that the +most active and varied gesticulation was the only means of conveying to +her the remotest idea of what one wished to say. Geordie, indeed, was +the only person sufficiently careless of his lungs to attempt the medium +of speech, and then his conversation was pitched in the same key as when +he performed his herding functions.</p> + +<p>To the little Jean, Geordie had been playmate and protector in one, her +absolute slave from the time she sat on her old grandmother's knee, and, +tiring of that position, lisped out, "Deordie, Deordie," holding out her +little brown hands so that he might take her, and then they would sit +together on the earthen floor of the cottage, and the gipsy locks would +intermingle with Geordie's flaxen hair, which yielded meekly to as rough +treatment from the little brown fingers as ever hapless terrier of the +nursery was called on to undergo. But Geordie's sun-bleached locks had +always been at her service, and his head and hands too; though it was +not much that the little herd-boy had been able to do for his sister. +Often as he lay on the heather, watching his cows, he smiled with +delight as he thought of the time when he should be promoted into a farm +servant, with wages enough to send Jean to school, and to buy her a +pretty print dress, all dotted with blue stars, like the one Mistress +Gowrie wore. As yet all his earnings had gone to pay board to his +grandmother, and for present necessities in the shape of shoes and +corduroys. He had in one of his pockets a little chamois bag, containing +a few shillings, which he always carried about with him; and it was one +of his recreations to spread them on one of the flat, grey stones and +count the silver pieces as they glittered in the sun. He knew well what +he meant to do with them when the pile grew large enough; but its growth +was a very slow one, and required much self-denial on Geordie's part, +seeing that the component parts of each shilling were generally gathered +in a stray penny now and then, which he earned by holding a market-going +farmer's cob; and if, by a rare chance, a sixpence happened to be the +unexpected result of one such service, then Geordie felt that he was +really getting rich, and would soon be able to buy what he had wished +for so long. It was not anything for himself, or even for Jean, as +might have been expected. Somebody had once told him that if his +grandmother only had an ear-trumpet she would be able to hear people +when they spoke to her. Geordie had the vaguest idea of what such an +instrument might be like, but decided that probably it bore some +resemblance in size or sound to the horn that summoned his cows home; +and having ascertained how much money it would cost, he resolved that he +would buy one for his granny whenever he could save the sum.</p> + +<p>The boy's heart was full of tender pity for the old deaf woman, with her +weird helpless ways, at whose side he had grown since his infancy; +though she could hardly have been said to "bring him up," for Granny +Baxter had been shiftless and unlovable when she was in possession of +her faculties, and her character had not improved under her trying +infirmities. Her grandson, however, always treated her with a tender +patience which no querulousness of the old woman could weary. Not so +little Jean. Only once she could remember her brother looking very grave +and grieved, and it was one day when she had refused to do something +that the old woman wanted, and put her in a white heat of passion by her +rebellion. Having escaped beyond the reach of her poor granny's +tottering feet, and, finding her way to the field where Geordie was +herding, she began to narrate her story in triumph, when her brother's +grave silence made her feel how naughty she had been. After that day +little Jean always tried to "mind" granny more, though she never +attained to the same unwearied service as Geordie.</p> + +<p>That Jean's education was being sadly neglected her brother felt +painfully, and he had made various efforts to teach her the little he +knew himself; but the knowledge contained in the "Third Primer" barely +sufficed for teaching purposes, and Geordie found, moreover, that the +little Jean was by no means an apt scholar. Indeed, the most hopeless +confusion continued to prevail in her small mind concerning the letters +of the alphabet, notwithstanding all his efforts. The natural history +lessons, however, had been a greater success; she had learnt from +Geordie the names of most trees and flowers that grew wild in the +valley, and knew the difference between a wagtail and a wren, which some +people who know their alphabet do not. Geordie sometimes thought that it +might be nice for Jean to go to the kirk, for it was from Jean's point +of view that he looked at most things in life. But then there was the +insuperable difficulty about Sunday clothes, so the idea had always +been given up after due consideration each time it presented itself to +his mind, and the church-going was reserved for that golden period when +Jean would be clothed in the blue-starred print frock, and he should +have a suit of Sunday clothes. Perhaps, with the encouragement of the +ear-trumpet, even frail granny might be conducted to church, Geordie +thought, hopefully, for he knew that she had the essentials of +church-going, as they presented themselves to his mind, stowed away in +an ancient chest-of-drawers where she kept her valuables.</p> + +<p>But in the interval, and while these happy days of good wages and +schooling for Jean and Sunday clothes still lay in the distance, this +invitation to go to the house of Kirklands to be taught on Sunday +afternoon was very delightful indeed, Geordie thought, as he trudged +home with dust-stained feet, carrying his shoes slung across his +shoulders, to pay an evening visit to his granny, eager to tell Jean +about the interview with the young lady and of the invitation. He knew +the news would be welcome to his grandmother also, for it had been one +of her standing grievances ever since he could remember that next rent +day Mr. Graham would be sure to give her notice to quit. And, indeed, if +the truth must be told, it was owing to Geordie's own useful and +reliable qualities that the little household had not long ago been told +to move on, and to make way for more money-making tenants. Farmer Gowrie +was one of the oldest residents on the estate, and he had frequently, as +he used daily to inform Granny Baxter, put in a good word for her with +the agent, and begged him to let the little cottage stand during the old +woman's lifetime; for where could he get a boy like Geordie at the same +money, as he remarked to his wife, so handy, so careful, so fearless of +Blackie, "the ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," who, under +his guidance, was meek as a lamb.</p> + +<p>But notwithstanding Gowrie's assurances that their home was safe, +Geordie knew that his grandmother would be very much pleased to know, if +he could make her understand the fact, that he had, that afternoon, +talked with a lady from the "big hoose" itself. She seemed kind and +"pleasant-spoken," and not at all the terrible ogre that Geordie always +imagined the lady of Kirklands to be. As the rent day came round, and he +went to the inn-parlour where the agent sat to receive the rents, he +used to lay the money on the table and then turn away quickly with a +beating heart, in case granny's oft-repeated prophecy should prove +true, and the dreaded notice to quit should really be coming at last. +But instead of any such terrible communication, after he had stood the +penetrating glance of the bald-headed factor, a kindly nod used +generally to follow, and presently Geordie was galloping home at the top +of his speed to assure his grandmother that there was no word of "a +flittin'" this Martinmas. And now he felt that their home was more +secure than ever, for had not the lady said that she was sure nobody +wanted to turn them out of it?</p> + +<p>Geordie's chief source of delight during his walk home was the thought +of what a pleasant outing the walk to Kirklands would be for Jean, for +there were many things within the lodge gates that she had heard of and +would like to see. Perhaps they might get a glimpse of the walled-in +garden as they passed, which Geordie had heard of from his master, who +was a friend of old Adam the gardener, and had been sometimes invited by +him to take a turn through his domain. But the happiest thought of all +was, that, perhaps, Jean might get more interested in her alphabet when +the young lady taught her. He resolved that he must not forget to take +the "Third Primer" with him, for it was possible that the young lady +might not exactly understand what they needed to be taught; for, after +all, she did not look so very old, he pondered, as he compared her +appearance with Mistress Gowrie's, the one grown specimen of the female +sex, except his grandmother, who made up his small world.</p> + + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/046.png" alt="End of Chapter II"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/047.png" alt="Chapter III"> </div> + +<h3>THE FIRST SCHOLARS</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/g.png" alt="G"> +race Campbell hurried home with not less eagerness than her future +scholar, to tell the news of her expedition at Kirklands. Her Aunt Hume +was only half awakened from her afternoon nap, and glanced with dropsy +eyes at the glowing face, as she listened to her niece's description of +how and where she had found Geordie.</p> + +<p>"Baxter! I do not remember that name; I must ask Mr. Graham who they +are, and all about them, nest time he comes," said Miss Hume, after +Grace had finished her eager narration, and stood twirling her hat in +her hand, hesitating whether she should tell her aunt Geordie's +impression of what sort of people the "Kirklands folk" were; but just at +that moment tea was brought, and on reflection, Grace resolved that, for +the present, it would be wise to keep silent on that point. Two days +passed quickly, and Sunday afternoon found Grace hovering about the +door of the little room which her aunt had given to her for her class. +She had been seated in state at a table which Margery had placed for +her, at what the old nurse considered a suitable angle of distance from +the form arranged for the scholars; but Grace began to think it felt +rather formidable to be waiting seated there, so she gathered up the +books again, and wandered between the avenue and the little room, +waiting with impatience the arrival of her first scholars, and having a +vague fear lest they might not be forthcoming after all.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Geordie and his little sister were toiling along the dusty +highway in an excited, expectant state of mind. The shady elm avenue was +a refreshing change after the hot white turnpike road. Geordie looked +keenly about him, noting all the well-kept walks and shrubberies, among +which he saw many plants that were not natives of the valley, and +thought he should like, sometime, to examine them more closely.</p> + +<p>At last they came in sight of the grey gables of the old mansion, and +little Jean grasped her brother's hand more closely, and looked up with +a frightened glance at the many windows, which seemed to her like so +many great eyes all staring at her. She began to wish that she was +safe back in her granny's cottage again, but consoled herself by +thinking that as long as she had hold of Geordie's hand nothing very +dreadful could possibly happen. Geordie, too, was somewhat overawed by +the nearer view of the "big hoose," which certainly seemed much more +formidable in its dimensions than it did from the moorland, where he +used to get a glimpse of it while he watched the sheep, and then it +looked no larger than the grey cairn which he made his watch-tower, but +now it seemed to frown above him, and the windows, too, began to create +uncomfortable sensations in his mind as well as Jean's.</p> + +<p>With the sight of his friend of the stepping-stones, his flagging +courage returned, for had he not conversed with her on his own domain, +and been invited by her to pay this visit?</p> + +<p>"This is Jean," he said, immediately looking up at Grace with his frank +smile, as he gave his sister a little push forward.</p> + +<p>"I have kept my tryst, ye see. You thought, maybe, I wouldna mind," he +added, smiling again at the absurdity of the idea that he should forget +such an eventful engagement. "I am so very glad to see you, Geordie, +and Jean, too. I must say I was a little afraid that you might forget +to come," added Grace, quite in a flutter of delight over the arrival of +her scholars, which they little dreamt of. Then she happened to glance +at Jean, who stood clutching her brother's corduroys in a very +frightened attitude, and Grace remembered that this was also a new +experience for the scholars, and perhaps they, too, might be suffering +from the nervousness which had been following her from the lawn to the +class-room for the last hour as she waited for them.</p> + +<p>Putting out her hand to Jean, she said, in an encouraging tone, "Come, I +dare say you must be tired after your walk in this hot afternoon. We +shall go to a little room that my aunt has given us to sit in, and see +if we cannot find something nice to read and learn," and Grace led the +way up the old steps and across the hall, then through what appeared to +the children quite a bewildering maze of dark passages, so dim and +sombre after the bright sunshine, that Grace overheard Jean say in an, +abrupt whisper, which was instantly smothered by her brother, "I'm +afraid, Geordie; I'm no gain' farther upon this dark road."</p> + +<p>At last the little company reached the room that had been assigned to +them. It was the old still-room, but it had been long in disuse, and +was scarcely less dim than the passages which led to it. The high narrow +window only admitted a few slanting rays of sunlight, that danced on the +white vaulted roof, which was queerly curved and arched by the windings +of a narrow staircase above. It looked, however, none the less an +imposing chamber to Geordie, who instinctively drew off his cap as he +came in from the sunny glare of the fresh spring day to its +semi-darkness.</p> + +<p>Then Jean, who had decided that the best code of manners was to watch +what Geordie did, and follow implicitly, began to pull the strings of +her little bonnet, to remove it from her head. It had been a present +from Mistress Gowrie on New Year's Day, and this was the first occasion +on which Jean had worn it, though it had often been taken from its +resting-place in a red cotton pocket-handkerchief, and viewed with +complacency. To-day, when it came to be-tied, she had to apply to +Geordie, her unfailing help in all extremities; and he in his efforts to +make an imposing bow like the one which decorated Mistress Gowrie's +ample chin, had knotted the strings after the manner of whipcord, so +that they required all Grace's ingenuity to disentangle them.</p> + +<p>Presently, after all these preliminaries were satisfactorily +accomplished, the young teacher seated herself at the table, and began, +to fumble nervously among the books which she had brought to use. There +was a little story-book that Walter and she used to like long ago, in +which she thought would be nice to read to them, and her mother's Bible, +in which she had been searching all the morning for what might be best +to choose as the first lesson, having selected and rejected a great many +parables and incidents both in the New and Old Testaments, and was even +now doubtful what they should begin to read.</p> + +<p>The sight of the books reminded Geordie of his pocket compendium of +knowledge, and coming to the table he laid the dog-eared "Third Primer" +in Grace's hand, saying, "I've been once through, but I'm thinkin' I've +maybe forgot it some. I doubt Jean doesna know one letter from another, +though I've whiles tried to make her understand," added Geordie, rather +ruefully, as he glanced towards the smiling little maiden, who sat quite +unabashed at this account of her ignorance.</p> + +<p>Grace was rather taken aback by the sight of the spelling-book, and also +by Geordie's statement as to the amount of his knowledge, though it was +the same as he had made at their first interview. Grace, however, in her +eagerness, had not understood its full import, so she gasped out in +some dismay, "But you can read the Bible a little, can you not, +Geordie?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe I might, if I tried," replied Geordie, in a hopeful tone. "They +were just goin' to put me into the Bible when I left the school. I have +heard them reading out some of the stories, and I thought they wouldn't +be that difficult to spell out. Maybe if I read in the primer for a +while, ye'll put me into the Bible," he added, evidently having a strong +idea of the necessity for a good foundation of spelling-book lore before +proceeding to use it.</p> + +<p>But Grace thought ruefully of all her high-flown plans for this Sunday +class, and felt that it was a terrible descent to be restricted to the +"Third Primer." But Geordie seemed convinced that through this dog-eared +volume lay the only royal road to learning. He had already opened the +book at one of the little lessons near the end which he seemed to think +he had not sufficiently mastered in the "schoolin' days" already far +away in the distance to the little herd-boy. He still stood by Grace's +side at the table, and his finger travelled slowly along the page as he +read, in the nasal sing-song tone in which the reading functions were +performed at the parish school, one of those meaningless little +paragraphs that are supposed to be best adapted by the compilers of +primers for teaching the young idea how to shoot.</p> + +<p>Grace sat listening, rather perplexed as to what course it would be best +to pursue. This certainly was not the kind of ideal Sunday-class which +she had in her mind all these months; indeed, this "Third Primer" was +hardly orthodox food for Sunday at all, according to her ideas; and yet +Geordie was laboriously travelling over the page with a dogged +earnestness which she did not know how to divert into any other channel +without doing harm in some shape or other. But presently help came to +her from a quarter where she had least expected it.</p> + +<p>Jean, who had been seated on the form unnoticed for several minutes, +listening to Geordie's earnest but uninteresting sing-song, as he stood +at the table leaning over his lesson-book, got tired of her neglected +situation, and descending from her high seat, she planted her sturdy +little legs on the floor, saying, in a decided tone, as she stumped away +towards the door, "Geordie, I'm tired sittin' here. I'm away home." +Jean's words fell like a thunderbolt both on Geordie and Grace. The +blood mounted to the boy's face, and his earnest blue eyes turned +anxiously towards the young teacher, to see what she was thinking of +such an utter breach of good manners on Jean's part.</p> + +<div> <img src="images/055.png" alt="THE FIRST LESSON"> </div> + +<p>Poor Grace felt bitterly conscious of sudden and terrible failure in +this work which she had so longed to undertake. She had not been able to +interest one scholar for a quarter of an hour, and the other seemed only +to have his heart set on learning to spell. "But it is not quite time to +go home yet, Jean," she faltered, as she watched the little girl's +efforts to open the door, since Geordie did not seem inclined to come +to her assistance. "Indeed, we haven't really begun yet," continued +Grace. "Come, Jean, would you not like to stay a little longer and hear +a story from the Bible before you go? Geordie used to like them at +school, he says;" and then, turning to the boy, who stood looking in +grave reproving silence at Jean, she said, "Besides, Geordie, I think, +perhaps, I did not quite explain to you the other day what I thought we +should try to learn on Sunday afternoons when you come here. I shall be +very glad to help you with spelling, too, you know, but I thought I +should like to tell you something about the Lord Jesus Christ our +Saviour, and to read some of his wonderful words which we find in the +New Testament. You have heard of him, have you not, Geordie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, ay, I'm thinkin' I have. But it was in the Auld Testament they were +readin' when I was at the school. I mind there was a right fine story +about a herd-laddie killin' a big giant, that one o' the laddies telt me +once. You've heard it many a time from me, Jean."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, I know that story too," Grace replied, brightening, as if a +glimmer of light had come to her in her perplexity. "And if you will +listen, I can tell you another story—about a Shepherd, too. I'm sure +you would like it, if you would only come back for a little and listen, +Jean," said Grace, eagerly.</p> + +<p>She did not venture to open the Bible, in case the little girl should +think the book would imply another course of spelling, and be roused +into immediate flight. Abandoning all her carefully arranged plans for +teaching which she had been thinking of for so long, she looked into +Geordie's eyes, which were still wandering hungrily towards the +unconquered pages of the primer, and began to tell of the Shepherd who +watched the hundred sheep in a wilderness far away in a very hot +country, where the burning sun dried up the streams and withered the +pasture, and where it was very difficult to find food for either man or +beast. And then she told of how very wise and tender this Shepherd was +with his flock, looking after their wants day and night, and taking very +special care of the silly, play-loving lambs, who did not guess what +terrible dangers they might fall into; for there were wild beasts +prowling about, ready to pounce upon them, and rushing torrents that +came suddenly from the hillsides in rainy seasons, which would have +drowned them in a minute, if the Shepherd's watchful eye had not been +there. He knew all their names, too, though sheep are so wonderfully +like each other."</p> + +<p>"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie. "He must have more wit than Gowrie's +shepherd, then. He has been wi' them for more than a year now, and I +dinna think he knows the one from the other so well as I do."</p> + +<p>Little Jean seemed to have abandoned her design of immediately returning +home, and was gradually edging nearer the table, with her twinkling +black eyes fixed on Grace.</p> + +<p>"But I was going to tell you what happened to one of the little lambs in +spite of the Shepherd's watchful care," Grace continued, feeling +inspirited by the growing interest of her audience.</p> + +<p>"Eh, but I hope none o' the wild beasts ye spoke o' got hold of it," +said Geordie, drawing a long breath.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no saying what might have happened, but for the Good +Shepherd. For the little lamb got lost—lost among bleak, sandy hills, +where it could find no green blade to eat, and got very hungry and +footsore. It could hear no kind shepherd's voice that it used to love to +listen to in happier days, but only terrible sounds like the bark of +wolves, coming nearer, and lions prowling about when it began to get +dark."</p> + +<p>"Puir lambie!" murmured Jean, whose face now rested on her little fat +hands, while, leaning on the table, she looked up in Grace's face; "it +must surely ha'e been very frightened," she added, in a compassionate +tone; for she knew that she did not like to cross the turf in front of +the cottage, after dark, without Geordie's protecting hand.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it surely must have been frightened enough, for it was certainly +in great danger, and the Shepherd knew what a terrible plight it must be +in, wandering about tired and hungry, far away from the fold. For what +do you think he did?" Grace continued, looking at Geordie; "he actually +left all the other sheep —the ninety-nine, you know—in the wilderness, +and went away to seek for this poor little silly lost lamb."</p> + +<p>"Did he though! He must have been a real fine man," responded Geordie, +warmly. "There's Gowrie's shepherd lost a wee lambie among the hills not +lang syne, and when Gowrie asked him, when he came home, why he didna +look about among the heather for it, he said he couldn't leave the rest, +and that it was a puir sick beastie no' worth much trouble. But it was a +nice wee thing for a' that, and it must have died all alone there, with +nobody to give it a drop of water," said Geordie, regretfully, for he +had a tender heart for all dumb creatures. "I must tell Gowrie's lad +about this Shepaerd the very next time he comes round the hill. But did +he find the lambie?" he asked, turning to Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he found it. He looked for it 'till he found it,' the story says. +After wandering along a road full of danger and painfulness, and +sorrowful sights of the terrible ruin the wild beasts had wrought, he +came upon the little strange lamb, just when its heart was beginning to +faint and fail. The story does not say that he punished it for running +away and giving him so much trouble, or even that he spoke some chiding +words and pushed it along in front of him with his crook, as I have +sometimes seen shepherds on the road do when the sheep get footsore and +weary and unwilling to go on with the journey."</p> + +<p>"Ay do they. They get their licks many a time when they don't deserve +them," chimed in Geordie, in a pathetic tone.</p> + +<p>"Well, but instead of any hard words or beatings, what do you think the +Shepherd did? He took the little lamb into his own weary arms, and it +lay safe and warm there, while he carried it all the way home to the +fold."</p> + +<p>"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie, in warmest admiration. "Eh, but the +lambie must surely have been right fond of the Shepherd after that. I'm +thinkin' he would know his voice better than before, and follow him +right close and canny. That's the kind o' shepherd all beasts would +like, for they know fine when a body cares for them," Geordie said, with +a glowing face, as he looked up at Grace, and the "Third Primer" slipped +unheeded on the floor.</p> + +<p>Was it a mere chance coincidence that this remark of Geordie's came at a +moment when it made more easy of introduction to Grace that part of the +parable story which she was full of eagerness to tell to her first +scholars? She desired that it might prove to them not merely a pleasant +tale, which had beguiled an hour that had threatened to be a very weary +one, to little Jean, at least; but that, through its homely dress, they +might catch a glimpse of its higher meaning, and be able to trace the +footsteps of the Great Shepherd of souls.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Geordie," she continued, "one would certainly imagine that the +sheep would follow such a shepherd very closely, and be very sure that +his way was always best, and that he was leading them by wise safe +paths, even when they seemed thorny and toilsome; but it is not so. I +can tell you of a Shepherd who not only went through many painful dark +desolate places, so that his flock might not stumble and fall when they +came to follow, but ended by laying down his life for his sheep. And yet +these very sheep do not always listen to his voice, nor follow the safe +narrow paths which he has tracked out for them, through the wilderness, +to the happy fold. I think you must both have heard of this Shepherd, +Geordie, and little Jean too."</p> + +<p>"I never knew a shepherd except Gowrie's, and he lost the bonnie lambie +with the black face, that used to lick Geordie's hand," replied little +Jean, with a doleful expression in her usually merry black eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but this Good Shepherd always searches for the lost sheep till he +finds it, and then he carries it in his arms all the journey through to +his beautiful home among the angels, and there is joy among them over +the little found lamb. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ who calls himself +the Good Shepherd, Jean, and who has told us this story about finding +the lost sheep, that we might understand the better how he came to this +world to save us from dark dangerous paths of sin that go down to death. +For we have all strayed as this poor silly lamb did, and some of us are +straying yet," continued Grace; and then, glancing at Geordie's earnest +face, she said, "You have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to +save us from our sins, have you not, Geordie?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard tell o' him. But I didna just think he was so real-like as +a shepherd with his sheep, or that he would have ta'en that trouble for +<i>one</i>," Geordie replied, with a dreamy look in his eyes; but he did not +say more.</p> + +<p>Just then Margery knocked at the door, and intimated that the hour was +expired, and little Jean again began to show some signs of restlessness, +so Grace felt regretfully that the first afternoon had come to an end, +and she had not followed any part of the programme which she had +previously marked out. There was the hymn-book, with a tune all ready +to sing to one of the hymns, which Grace had practised painstakingly on +the piano the day before. But now she found that neither Jean nor +Geordie could sing, so she thought it might be wise to select something +simpler than she had chosen before, and ended by singing her oldest +childish favourite, "The Happy Land." It was evidently new to the +children; for their poor old deaf granny's was not a musical home. +Geordie's eyes dilated with delight as he listened, and he kept giving +Jean a series of nods across the table, in case she should by any chance +miss the full enjoyment of such beautiful sounds.</p> + +<p>A second knock from Margery, this time carrying a plateful of +currant-cake which Miss Hume had sent to the children, fairly broke up +the little gathering. Grace felt with disappointment that this first +class had come sadly short of her ideal, was a complete failure, in +fact, when she remembered all that she had meant to say and do, and all +the hoped-for responses on the part of the scholars.</p> + +<p>In thinking of this afternoon long afterwards, when it lay in the clear +rounded distance of the past, Grace used to smile as she remembered her +restless impatience, and compare herself to the little girl who was +always pulling up by the roots the flowers she had planted in her +garden, to see how they were getting on.</p> + +<p>When they prepared to leave the little still room, Grace handed Geordie +his precious "Third Primer," which she found lying on the floor, and as +he put it into his jacket pocket, he said with a smile, "I won't bring +it back with me, I'm thinkin'. Ye'll maybe tell us some more about the +Good Shepherd next time, and I can hold at the spellin' when I'm +herdin', and maybe I'll soon be able to get into the Bible itself," he +added, still firm in his belief that the only entrance lay through the +spelling-book.</p> + +<p>Grace, remembering little Jean's dislike to the exit through the dark +passages, led the way to a door which opened into a path to the garden. +Jean manifested undisguised satisfaction when the dim still-room +precincts were fairly left behind, and they got into the pleasant old +walled-in garden, where the yellow afternoon's sun was lying on the +opening fruit-blossom, and bringing delicious scents out of the +newly-blown lilac and hawthorn. She kept pulling Geordie's corduroys, to +draw his attention to all that captivated her as they walked along the +broad gravel walk. This was certainly a much pleasanter way home than +along the dim passage, and Jean decided that the best part of the +afternoon had come last. Presently Grace opened the door of one of the +greenhouses, and they stood among richer colours and sweeter scents than +before. The children had been surveying with admiring wonder the +dazzling house glittering in the sun, which was making each pane sparkle +like a diamond, but they never dreamt that it would be given to them to +enter it, or indeed that it had an interior which could be reached, so +entirely did it seem to belong to the region of the sun, not to the +world of thatched cottages and grey walls.</p> + +<p>"Eh, but surely this will be something like the happy land you were +singin' aboot," Geordie said at last, with a long-drawn breath, after he +had wandered about in silence for some time, revelling in the exotic +delights of the first greenhouse he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Geordie; there will be all this, and a great deal more; things +so beautiful and, glorious that our poor minds can't even imagine what +they will be like," said Grace, glowingly, feeling a thrill of pleasure +to hear that the hymn had any meaning for the boy, so desponding was she +concerning her efforts. "Look here, I'll just read to you about the +pleasant place where the Good Shepherd leads his flock, after their +journey on earth is over." And leaning against an old orange-tree, +Grace read to her little scholars about that wonderful multitude "which +came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made +them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the +throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that +sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, +neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any +heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, +and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe +away all tears from their eyes." They stood quite still for a few +moments after Grace had finished reading, each thinking some new +thoughts.</p> + +<p>In the mind of little Jean, to be sure, there certainly prevailed some +confusion of ideas between the happy land of which she had been hearing, +and the beautiful garden in which she stood. Indeed, to the end of her +life, the yellow glitter of the sun on the Kirklands greenhouses brought +to her mind the description of that "city of pure gold, as it were +transparent glass;" and the tall tropical plants which were ranged round +the shining floor were to her the embodiments of the trees whose leaves +were for the "healing of the nations."</p> + +<p>But Geordie's thoughts were most about that Shepherd Saviour who seemed +to be able to lead his flock away from bleak, scorching places to such a +blessed land as these words told of.</p> + +<p>In spite of old Adam's approaching shadow on the gravel walk, Grace +plucked a few of the rare, beautiful roses and gave them to little Jean, +whose small fat hands were eagerly stretched out to receive the prize. +They spent the remainder of their flourishing existence in a broken +yellow jug on the window-sill of Granny Baxter's cottage, and were a joy +to Jean for many days. And when it was the fate of their companions +still left in their stately glass home to be gathered into Adam's barrow +when their charms had past, and ignominiously flung away, Jean's roses +had a more honourable future. After they had done their duty faithfully +on the window-sill, the dead leaves were tenderly gathered and scattered +in the drawers allotted to Jean in the ancient chest, where they made a +sweet scent in their embalmment for many a day.</p> + +<p>The little party arrived at last at the farther end of the garden, where +there was a door in the high, red wall opening on a path which led to +the turnpike-road. Grace turned the rusty key, and the children saw the +familiar face of their native valley again. Giving a lingering backward +glance into the pleasant garden which they had just left, they trotted +away towards the dusty high-road, while Grace stood watching them till +they were out of sight.</p> + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/070.png" alt="End of Chapter III"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/071.png" alt="Chapter IV"> </div> + +<h3>ELSIE GRAY</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/i.png" alt="I"> +<p>ll tell you what it is, Grace; that scholar of yours is far too fine +a fellow to be left to tie companionship of old Gowrie's cattle any +longer."</p> + +<p>The speaker was a bright, breezy-looking lad in midshipman's dress, who +was sauntering up and down the old terrace at Kirklands, in company with +our friend Grace. She is a year older than when we saw her last at the +garden-gate, parting with her two scholars after their first Sunday +together. They have had a great many afternoons in company since then. +Grace had remained in her summer home all through the long Scotch +winter, and now autumn had come, bringing with it her brother Walter on +a delightful holiday of six weeks, after an absence of years.</p> + +<p>Miss Hume had got so frail the previous year, that she was unfit for the +return journey to her house in Edinburgh, and the following months had +only brought an increase of weakness. She now lay in her darkened room, +with, her flickering lamp of life burning slowly to. its socket, while +some young lives beside her were being kindled by glowing fires which +would cause their hearts to burn long after the "glow of early thought +declines in feeling's dull decay."</p> + +<p>The little company in the still-room had somewhat increased, four others +haying been added to the two first scholars. One of them was Elsie Gray, +the forester's daughter, a pretty little girl with a sweet voice, and +able to sing a great many hymns, so that Grace had no longer to perform +solos to the still-room audience, but was accompanied by more than one +voice timidly following Elsie's example, and joining in the singing. +There were three other scholars from the borders of the next parish, and +a very happy party they all made together. But it must be confessed that +the warmest place in Grace's heart was reserved for the first scholar +whom she had found that chilly spring day among the pasture lands which +sloped down to the little stream. Judged by an educational standard, +Geordie was certainly, with the exception of the little Jean, the most +deficient of the company, in spite of his having manfully conquered the +last pages of the "Third Primer," and got at last "intil the Bible." +The other boys and girls still attended the parish school on week days, +and seemed more or less very fairly in possession of the rudiments of +education. Some things, however, which they read and heard in the little +quiet room at Kirklands sank into their hearts as they had never done +when they read them as the stereotyped portion of the Bible-reading +lesson amid the mingled jangle of slates and pencils and pattering feet, +with the hum of rough northern tongues, which prevailed in the parish +school-room.</p> + +<p>To Geordie even this discordant medium of education had been denied. +Grace had set her heart on having him sent to school during the past +winter. She saw what a precious boon such an opportunity appeared in +Geordie's eyes when she suggested it to him. But Farmer Gowrie had to be +consulted, and finding the herd-boy useful in winter as well as during +the summer months, he decided that he could not possibly spare Geordie. +And as for Granny Baxter, she could not understand what anybody could +want with more learning who was, able to earn money. So Geordie had one +day lingered behind the other scholars to tell Grace that the idea of +going to school even during the winter quarter must be given up. There +was always a manly reticence about the boy which made one feel that +words of sympathy would be patronising; but Grace could see what a +bitter disappointment it was, though he appeared quite unalterable in +his decision that he "belonged to Gowrie," when Grace tried to arrange +the matter by an interview with the farmer. He could only claim the boy +week by week, and the young teacher did not see the necessity for such +self-denial on Geordie's part.</p> + +<p>Then Grace's store of pocket-money had been devoted to sending little +Jean to school. This arrangement had been a source of great delight to +Geordie—much more of an event to him, indeed, than to the phlegmatic +little Jean, to whom the primer did not contain such precious +possibilities as it did to her brother's eyes. Grace had arranged that +she should go to a girls' school lately opened in the parish. It was the +one to which Elsie Gray, the forester's daughter, went. On her way to +school she had to pass Granny Baxter's cottage, and after Jean was +installed as her fellow-scholar, Elsie used generally to call and see if +the little girl was ready to start, so that they might walk along the +road together.</p> + +<p>Elsie was a pale, fragile-looking girl, who looked as if she had grown +among crowded streets, rather than blossomed in the open valley, with +its flowing river and breezy hillsides. She was a very silent child, +too, with a meek grace about all her movements; her large grey eyes +shone out of her face with a luminous, dreamy light in them, which +distressed her practical, rosy-faced mother, who used to say that she +did not know where Elsie had come by "those ghaist-like eyes o' hers," +and as for those washed-out cheeks, "there was no accountin' for them +neither;" and the worthy matron would go on to narrate with what +abundance and amplitude Elsie had been ministered to all her life; and +yet Elsie glided about still and pale, with her large eyes shining like +precious stones, generally hungrily possessed by some book which she +held in her hand. She had an insatiable appetite for reading, and had +long ago exhausted the juvenile library attached to the church, while +the few books which comprised the forester's collection had been read +and re-read by her many times. The farmer librarian, who remained half +an hour after the congregation was dismissed on Sundays to dispense +books for any that might wish them, in the room behind the church, had +been obliged to give Elsie entrance to the shelves reserved for older +people, after she had exhausted the youthful library. It is not to be +supposed, however, that by this admission Elsie was allowed to plunge +chartless into light literature. The shelves contained only books of the +most sober kind, the lightest admixture being narratives of the +persecutions of the Waldenses and stories of the Covenanting struggles. +These Elsie read and pondered with intense interest, interweaving the +scenes in her imagination with the familiar places and people round her, +and living a far-away dreamy life of her own in the forester's cozy +little nest, while her active-minded, busy-fingered mother made her +cheese and butter, and reared her poultry, and was withal so very +capable of performing her own duties, that the forester sometimes +ventured to think, when Mrs. Gray complained of Elsie's "handlessness," +that seeing the mistress was so well able for "her own turn," it was +fortunate his little daughter chanced to be of a more contemplative +disposition.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gray had heard from Margery of the Sunday class which her young +mistress had opened at Kirklands, and though, as the forester's wife +remarked, "Elsie had enough and to spare of schoolin' already," yet it +would only be a suitable mark of respect to the lady of Kirklands to +send her there on Sunday afternoons; and so it happened that Elsie +became one of Grace's scholars, sitting in the little still-room on +Sunday afternoons, her large tender eyes answering in sympathetic +flashes as the young teacher talked with the little company of those +wonderful days when the Son o Man lived upon the earth, or told them +some story of the earlier times of the world, when God's voice was heard +in the beautiful garden in the cool of the day, or when he guided his +chosen people by signs and wonders.</p> + +<p>In those days, however, the gospel tidings were not more to Elsie than +many another pathetic story which she knew, and served simply as food +for her imagination, though Grace's earnest words did throw a halo round +the familiar incidents which the daily reading of a chapter in the New +Testament had failed to do. Yet it was not till some of the sharp +sorrows of life had fallen upon Elsie that those words which she heard +in the still-room came with living power to her heart, and became to her +a light in dark days, a joy in sorrowful times, which nothing was able +to take away from her.</p> + +<p>And this was the little girl who used to knock gently at the door of +Granny Baxter's cottage every morning as she passed along the road to +school, arrayed in her pretty grey stuff frock, and with her snowy linen +tippet and sun-bonnet. Sometimes she found little Jean's round smiling +face peering against the peat-stack at the end of the cottage awaiting +her coming, for a great friendship had sprung up between these two, +though they were certainly very different in character. Elsie seemed to +have a brooding protective care over the little unkempt Jean, exercising +a sort of guardianship of her in the new life at school. She would often +come to her rescue when Jean sat pouting over a blurred slate, en which +she was helplessly trying to reproduce the figures on the blackboard, or +give her timely aid amid the involvements of some question in the +Shorter Catechism. It was Elsie who tied the bonnet-strings now, with +more dexterous fingers than Geordie's, and performed many similar kindly +offices besides; and little Jean was already learning from the +forester's daughter many habits of tidiness which her poor, failing +grandmother had not been capable of teaching her.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, on their way from school, the girls would find Geordie +perched on the paling of one of Gowrie's fields, while the cattle grazed +within the fences, watching for their coming to enliven a lonely hour +with their talk and news of school doings. His eye used to glisten with +pride and pleasure as he watched the little Jean appear, carrying her +books and slate, and already bearing many traces of civilising +influences. And it is not to be wondered at if his eye rested with +admiration sometimes on the sweet maiden, who was generally her +companion, and that he learnt to watch eagerly for the first glimpse of +the snowy sun-bonnet along the winding green lane which led from the +girls' school to the high road. Sometimes Elsie used to bring one of her +favourite books in her plaited-cord school-bag, and then the trio would +sit in a shady corner, where Geordie's vigilant eye could still keep +watch over his charge, while the little girl introduced her friends to +some of the favourite scenes of her ideal world. Elsie seemed to +understand, though she had never been told it in so many words, all +about Geordie's intense desire for knowledge, and to appreciate his +self-denial in remaining in his present post. And so it happened there +grew up in her mind a tender sympathy for all that he had missed, side +by side with an admiring belief in his character.</p> + +<p>How many thoughts and ideas he surely must have, she used to think, +after one of those meetings, when she took her solitary way home, after +parting with Jean, and remembered Geordie's remarks, which seemed to +throw new light on her favourite histories, and to touch with insight +all that was most beautiful and true in them. Often Elsie used to +delight the unvocal brother and sister by singing one of her hymns, +which for days afterwards would echo in some "odd corner" of the lonely +little herd-boy's brain. Sometimes, too, they discussed what they had +been hearing on the previous Sunday at Kirklands; and Elsie always felt +more interested in the lesson after hearing Geordie's gentle, reverent +talk. And to Elsie, who had neither brother nor sister, there was an +infinite charm in Geordie's devotion to his sister Jean, and his +unwearied anxiety for her happiness. She noticed, too, the tender, +chivalrous care with which he ministered to his old grandmother, never +wearying of her selfish, querulous ways, and sacrificing himself to her +smallest wishes.</p> + +<p>So it happened that a warm friendship sprang up between those three who +sat side by side in Grace Campbell's little school-room; and their daily +lives had become pleasantly interwoven during these past months. To +Jean, Elsie appeared the embodiment of all that was worthy of imitation, +from her snowy sun-bonnet to her gentle voice, both seeming equally +unattainable to the little girl. When Geordie returned to the village on +Saturday night, he used generally to hear from Jean some glowing +narrative in Elsie's praise, to which Geordie's ears were quite wide +open, though he sat bending over his books in the "ingle neuk" of the +cottage kitchen.</p> + +<p>When her idea of a winter at school had to be abandoned, Grace gave him +a few helpful class-books, and tried to direct his efforts to learn as +much as was possible; but, during the past year, her aunt's increasing +weakness and dependence on her companionship made it impossible for +Grace to give the boy such practical help as she would fain have done. +But Geordie had been fighting his own battle manfully, and had made more +progress than Grace guessed.</p> + +<p>Walter had first been telling her as they walked on the terrace +together, that the day before he had found Geordie busy with a geography +book as he tended his cattle, and how pleased he had been to hear about +the new lands Walter had seen. Like Elsie, Walter felt that, in +Geordie's mind, things seemed to gather a richness and an interest with +which his own impressions had not clothed them.</p> + +<p>"You've no idea how many queer questions the fellow asked me about +everything," continued Walter. "Indeed, Grace, I couldn't help thinking +how much more good Geordie would have got out of all the things and +places I've seen since I went away, than I have. And yet he's much too +clever for a sailor's life. What can we do with him, Grace? I really +can't bear to think of his drudging on as a farm servant to old Gowrie, +though he seems quite contented with the prospect," and Walter turned to +Grace, who glanced at her brother's kindly face with pleasure, though +not unmixed with surprise, that he should take such an interest in her +Sunday-scholar.</p> + +<p>Walter seemed to look on Grace's class rather in a humorous light when +he first heard of its existence on his return to Kirklands. And +presently he had begun to grudge that she should devote herself to it, +and thus deprive him of the pleasure of her society during the long +Sunday afternoons, when they used to be together in the old days. And, +in the midst of all her joy in having her brother with her again, Grace +had been feeling with sadness that there was as yet no response in +Walter's heart to those unseen, eternal things, which, in her efforts to +share them with the little company on Sunday, had become increasingly +vivid to her own mind. He used occasionally to rally her on her new +fancies, which he seemed to think quite harmless and suitable for a +girl, provided they did not cross his plans and fancies.</p> + +<p>One day, when he was on his way to fish, he had happened to meet +Geordie, who was herding his cattle near the stepping-stones. Geordie +was a clever angler, and could wile more trout out of the river than +most people, and Walter had been delighted with his information as to +the fishing capabilities of the Kirklands river. Since that day they had +always been friends when they chanced to meet. Walter could never see +the sun-bleached locks gleaming in the distance without crossing +whatever gate or field happened to lie between, and going to have a talk +with him; so the boys had seen much more of each other than Grace knew. +She had often been obliged to leave "Walter to solitary rambles, owing +to her aunt's, increasing dependence on her during her long illness, so +it happened that she felt some surprise when she saw Walter more moved +than was his wont as he eagerly discussed plans for helping Geordie.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it is, Gracie," said Walter, in his blunt way, as +his quick eye detected Grace's slight surprise that he should have so +warmly espoused the cause of her Sunday-scholar. "You know I have seen +Geordie a good deal lately. We have had a lot of fishing talk, and all +that, and I like the chap—he's a first-rate fellow. I can't bear to +see a fellow so much better than myself trudging away behind those +beasts of Gowrie's day after day. And, besides, Grace, the fact is I owe +him something more than anything I may be able to do for him can ever +repay. It isn't every fellow, I can tell you, who would have had the +courage to say to me what he did," stammered Walter.</p> + +<p>"What did he say, Walter?" asked Grace, more astonished than ever. "I +thought you hardly knew more of Geordie Baxter than his name. You know +he is my favourite scholar. But it is a long time since I have had a +quiet talk with him. I well remember the first conversation we had, +standing on the stepping-stones near that bend of the river where the +birches grow."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, I know the place. It's curious, it was just about that very +spot I was going to tell you. I met him there, one day, not long ago, +and he happened to say that he had been asking Gowrie to stop sending +the cattle to that bit of pasture, because the stepping-stones made it a +thoroughfare, and that bull had been getting more savage lately, and he +could not always persuade people that it was dangerous to pass near him; +but Gowrie had said it was nonsense, and so forth. Well, you see, I'm +not very fond of old Gowrie, and when I saw how meekly Geordie submitted +to him, I felt provoked, and began to speak a little strongly, as we +middies sometimes do—swore, in fact. And if Geordie didn't make me feel +more ashamed of myself than ever I did in my life. You've tried your +hand on me before now, Gracie, and I'm sure you'll be glad to +hear—well, that I'm going to try to lead a very different life now." +Walter's voice faltered, and Grace looked at him with glistening eyes.</p> + +<p>After a few moments' silence, she said, "But Walter, dear, you haven't +told me yet what Geordie said."</p> + +<p>"Well, Grace, I hardly think I should like to tell you all he said. But +he came, and laying his hand on my shoulder, looked at me with those +earnest eyes of his. 'You've been very kind to me, Maister Campbell,' he +began, 'and it would be ill-done no to min' ye that ye are giving a sore +heart to your best Friend ye have by takin' his dear name in vain,' and +then he said a little more about it. I was so taken aback, Grace, I +could hardly believe my own ears. It must have required a lot of +downright courage to speak like that; there isn't a mid in all our crew +who would have ventured to do so. And yet I dare say I'm in for +something of the same kind when I go back again to the ship. For you +know I must be a 'good soldier,' Grace," added Walter, with a gentle, +fearless look in his eyes that carried Grace's thoughts back to an early +scene, when she stood in the crowded street in her nurse's hand, and +watched her father's face as he rode alongside his men to his last +battle. And as she looked at Walter's face, she remembered some old +words which say, "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that +taketh a city;" and she lifted up her heart, and gave God thanks that +this young spirit, so dear and precious to her, had taken him for his +Leader and Lord.</p> + + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/086.png" alt="End of Chapter IV"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/087.png" alt="Chapter V"> </div> + +<h3>HOW GEORDIE'S HERDING CAME TO AN END.</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/it.png" alt="It"> +was a lovely autumn evening. The valley of Kirklands lay flooded in +the sunset glow. Its yellowing fields were tinged with warm-crimson and +purple, and the golden light shimmered on the trees and fringed the dark +fir tops. Never had her home looked more beautiful, Grace thought, when, +at last, the brother and sister turned to go indoors, after their +earnest talk. She stood leaning on the old carved railing of the steps, +taking one more glance at the peaceful scene before she followed Walter +into the darkening entrance-hall, when her eye caught sight of a stumpy +figure which she thought she recognised.</p> + +<p>It was little Jean Baxter, who hurried along the elm avenue as fast as +her short legs could carry her. She looked breathless and excited, and +when she came nearer Grace saw that she was tearful and dishevelled. She +hastened down the steps to meet her, wondering what childish grief +could be agitating the mind of the usually imperturbable little Jean. +When she caught eight of Grace, she threw up her arms with a loud, +bitter wail that rang among the old elms, echoing through their arching +branches, and startling the birds that had just gone to roost. "Oh, Miss +Cam'ell! Geordie, Geordie!--he's hurt; he's dyin'; Blackie's gotten hold +o' him."</p> + +<p>It was vain to ask anything more. Jean could only repeat her wailing +refrain, so taking the child's hand, Grace quietly asked her to lead the +way to where Geordie was, trying to quiet her bitter weeping by such +soothing words as she could muster in the midst of her own distress at +the possibility of any serious accident having happened to her favourite +scholar. But poor little Jean's sad monotone still rang mournfully +through the soft evening air as she trotted along by Grace's +side—"Geordie's dyin'; Blackie's got hold o' him."</p> + +<p>Grace, however, managed to learn from a few incoherent words that the +boy was lying, in whatever state he might be, at the river side, near +the stepping-stones. He had, that afternoon, taken the cattle, along +with the dangerous bull, to the heathery knolls, where Gowrie's careful +soul grudged that any morsel of pasture should remain unused. Geordie +had always been most careful in warning unwary passers-by of their +danger, for, though fearless enough himself, he still held that Blackie +was the "ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," and never felt +easy in his mind except when he had him within the fences of the upland +fields. He had once or twice tried to tether the animal near one of the +hillocks, but he saw that it made his temper more dangerous than ever; +besides, the little patches of green pasture were so scattered through +the heather, and had carefully to be scented out by discriminating +noses, that to have fettered poor Blackie to one spot seemed to him a +crying injustice, uneasy as he felt at his being able to roam at large +so near a thoroughfare. Geordie had never even allowed himself the +luxury of Jean's company when there were no fences to put between +Blackie and her.</p> + +<p>But that day the harvest holidays had been given at the girls' school. +There had been prizes distributed and an examination held which lasted +till evening. Elsie Gray had got several trophies of her diligence, but +the great and unexpected event of the day was that little Jean had +actually got a prize. She was nearly beside herself with ecstasy as she +clutched the gay crimson and gilt volume which was presented to her, +and resented that it should even for a moment be absent from her arms to +be admired by her companions. Then Geordie must hear about this +unexpected honour, must see and touch the treasure at once; and Jean +galloped off with the precious volume to the field where he was +generally to be found perched on the paling, awaiting their coming. +Elsie Gray followed, eager enough, too, to show her honours to the +boy-friend, whose golden opinions she dearly loved to win. There was a +pink flush on her usually pale cheek, as she glanced about in search of +Geordie when they reached the field, panting and breathless after their +race. But no Geordie was visible anywhere, and the field was quite empty +and tenantless. Then Jean remembered, what she had forgotten in her +excitement, that Geordie was to be herding at the hillocks to-day, and +so she started off to find him, forgetful that his present post was +forbidden ground.</p> + +<p>The girls were not long in reaching the stepping-stones, and presently +Jean was at Geordie's side, dancing round him with wild cries of +delight, as she flourished her gay prize in his rather bewildered eyes. +He had been lying with his face resting on his hands, on one of the soft +knolls of turf, looking at the sunset, and thinking of the new lands of +which he had lately been hearing from Walter Campbell. He seemed so +possessed by his own thoughts and reveries that he heard no sound of +coming footsteps till he looked up suddenly, and saw little Jean by his +side. He jumped up from the turf, and began to look wistfully towards +the river side to see if there was nobody else besides Jean coming to +enliven a lonely hour.</p> + +<p>Elsie had crossed the stepping-stones, and was moving towards the +hillock on which he stood, with her sun-bonnet in one hand, and her +heavy armful of shining prize books in the other with the golden sun's +rays falling on her. Her dusky hair was hanging rather more loosely than +usual, shaken out of its general smoothness by her hot face. The pale +face was all aglow with pleasure, and her large eyes looked radiant with +delight at the thoughts of the pleasure that little Jean's success, as +well as her own, would give to Geordie. The boy stood with his flaxen +hair all gilded by the sun, looking at her with a glad light in his blue +eyes. For a moment only, and then, with a look of terror, he glanced in +the opposite direction, remembering that this was dangerous ground. +Blackie had been roused from his sleepy grazing by little Jean's cry of +delight, and, looking up, his evil eye caught sight of Elsie, with her +bright colours, made more dazzling by the sunset tints. With a toss of +his head, and a few wild plunges, the brute, with his head near to the +ground, and his eyes fixed on his prey, made his way towards her. +Geordie shouted, "Back, Elsie; back on the stepping-stones!" but it was +too late.</p> + +<p>Elsie lost her presence of mind, and wavered backward and forward for a +moment, till it was impossible to save herself by taking refuge on the +other side of the stream, where Blackie, not knowing the advantage of +stepping-stones, would probably not have troubled himself to follow her. +In an instant Geordie had flung himself between the roused animal and +Elsie. His stick still lay on the hillock, where he had been resting, so +he had no weapon of defence, and Blackie, in his rage, would not spare +the faithful lad, who had spent so many lonely hours by his side. In +another moment, Geordie was lying gored and senseless on the heather.</p> + +<p>Elsie had reached the stepping-stones, and stood there transfixed like a +marble statue. Blackie might follow her now if he had a mind to, but he +had not. After a glance at Geordie, he plunged away with his heels in +the air through the heather, having an uneasy consciousness that he had +lost his temper, and treated a good friend rather roughly.</p> + +<p>As for little Jean, she had fortunately happened to be beyond Blackie's +range of observation; for it was on Elsie that his sole gaze had been +fixed, and he only vented his baulked fury on Geordie when the vision of +bright colours slipped away. Gowrie's ploughman happened to be passing +near, and had been a witness of the scene, though it was impossible for +him to give timely help. Elsie Gray, he noticed, was now safe on the +stepping-stones, and Geordie lying on the heather, with all the mischief +done to him that Blackie was likely to do. But the enraged animal might +attack somebody else presently, and the man thought the best service he +could render was to secure Blackie against doing further injury. Never +did repentant criminal receive handcuffs with more submission than the +guilt-stricken Blackie the badge of punishment. There was a subdued +pathetic look of almost human remorse and woe in the eye of the brute, +as he was led past the place where Geordie lay low among the heather. +The hands that had so often fed him and made a clean soft bed for him at +night, often stroking his great knotted neck, and never raised in unjust +punishment, lying helpless and shattered now, and the fair locks hung +across his face, all dabbled with blood. Elsie was now kneeling by his +side, but he was quite unconscious of her presence, and heedless of her +low wailing, as she looked wildly round to see if nobody was coming to +help Geordie, who had helped her so bravely. Little Jean had hurried +shrieking to the farm, with the news of the accident, and Mistress +Gowrie presently appeared, to Elsie's intense relief. She was a kindly +woman, and felt conscience-stricken as she kneeled beside the little +herd-boy; for she knew that it was not with his will that Blackie roamed +at large among those knolls. She had happened to hear his last +expostulation with her husband on the point; and this was how it had +ended. But she did not think he was dead. Elsie could hardly restrain a +cry of delight when she heard the whispered word that he lived still. +How joyfully she carried water in her sun-bonnet from the flowing river, +how tenderly she sprinkled it on his face and hands, and wiped the +bloodstained locks.</p> + +<p>And then old Farmer Gowrie came and stood with his hands behind his +back, and a shadow on his furrowed face, as he gazed on his young +servant with an uneasy stare. He kept restlessly moving backwards and +forwards to see whether the still motionless figure showed any sign of +life, till his wife reminded him that Granny Baxter was probably +ignorant of the terrible accident which had happened to her grandson, +and asked him to go and break the news to her. Little Jean had been +there before him, however; and Gowrie found the old woman crawling +helplessly along in the direction of the knolls, quite stupefied by the +terrible tidings that Jean had managed to convey to her deaf ears. The +little girl seemed possessed with the idea that Miss Campbell would be +sure to be able to help Geordie in this extremity; and so she left her +old granny to find her way alone, and had hurried away in the direction +of Kirklands to tell her sorrowful tale, meeting Grace, as we know, in +the elm avenue, after her eventful talk with her brother.</p> + +<p>They were already half-way to the stepping-stones, when Grace +remembered—feeling it unaccountable that, even in her anxiety, she +should have forgotten for an instant—that Walter must know what had +happened to Geordie—Geordie, to whom he owed so much. She felt that she +could not leave the little weeping girl to go on her way alone; but just +as she was standing hesitating what it might be best to do, she met one +of the dwellers in the valley, who promised to go at once and convey a +message to her brother, and then she and Jean hurried on towards the +fatal pasture lands. Before they crossed the stepping-stones which led +to the knolls, Grace could see a little group bending over a spot in the +heather; but no sound reached them through the calm evening air, except +the rippling of the sunset-tinted river, which rolled between. And so +Geordie was lying there gored, maimed, perhaps dying, as Jean persisted +in saying. Grace felt her heart sink with fear, lest the sorrowful +refrain should be true, as she crept silently near to the place where +the little company was gathered. But Geordie was not dead.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Miss Campbell," somebody said, and then the circle opened +up, and Grace caught a glimpse of her scholar lying very quietly among +the heather with his blue eye turned gladly to welcome his friend.</p> + +<p>"It was only a faint, after all,—and some bruises that will soon heal," +Mistress Gowrie said, in a tone of relieved anxiety, as she rose from +the turf where she had been kneeling to make way for Grace, who felt an +intense relief as she bent smilingly over him, and talked gently of the +danger past, with her heart full of thankfulness.</p> + +<p>When little Jean saw the happy aspect of matters, her grief gave place +to the wildest ecstasy of delight. Throwing herself down beside her +brother, she shouted gleefully, "Oh, Geordie, Geordie, ye're no dyin' +after all, ye're all right. I'll never greet again all the days o' my +life," was the rash promise which she made in her joy, remembering +Geordie's dislike to tears. Presently her thoughts reverted to her +treasure, which, in her grief, had been forgotten. It had been dropped +on the knoll when the accident happened, and Jean now bounded off +gleefully in search of it.</p> + +<p>A doctor had been sent for soon after the accident, but Geordie seemed +so well that old Gowrie already began to regret that they had been in +such haste in sending to fetch him. Presently Mistress Gowrie left the +knolls and returned to her usual evening duties, which she felt were put +sadly in arrear owing to this outbreak of Blackie's, and feeling truly +thankful that it had ended so fortunately. She invited old Granny Baxter +to have a cup of tea with her at the farm, which was a very great mark +of graciousness on the part of "the mistress," and extremely gratifying +to the old woman, to whom attentions of the kind came rarely.</p> + +<p>It had been arranged, also, by the farmer's wife that Geordie should be +moved into the "best bedroom" before the doctor came, and Granny +Baxter was filled with pride when she was shown the woodruff-scented +chamber, with its dark shining floor, and among other impressive +decorations from the farmyard, a waving canopy of peacock feathers above +the ancient chimney-piece, where Geordie was to sleep among snowy sheets +that night. But each time that they proposed he should be carried there +from his rough bed among the heather, Geordie pled rather wistfully, +"Just wait a wee while. I'm right comfortable here among the heather," +and once he added with a sad smile as he glanced at the farmer's wife, +"But I'll no be able to supper the beasts the night, Mistress Gowrie. +Maybe Sandy will look to them. Puir Blackie! give him a good supper; he +didn't mean any ill."</p> + +<p>Only Elsie Gray, of all the original group, still sat near Geordie, +where she could watch every movement, though she could not be seen by +him. She kept gazing at him with unutterable anguish in her eyes, and +only she detected the sharp spasms that occasionally crossed his face, +and felt his frame quiver with pain which he tried to conceal.</p> + +<p>"Miss Campbell," she whispered to Grace who was seated near her, "he's +very sore hurt, I'm sure of it. Oh, will the doctor no come soon!" and +when Grace looked into Geordie's face she began to share Elsie's fears.</p> + +<p>Presently Jean came bounding back in delight with her recovered treasure +to lay it in Geordie's hands. He looked at the gaily-bound book with his +most pleased smile, and then glancing at Jean proudly, he said, "Eh, +Jean, but ye'll be learnin' to be a grand scholar. I'm right glad ye +have got to the school."</p> + +<p>Then the eager little girl must needs have the book in her own hands +again, to search among the leaves for the illustrations which were +interspersed, so that Geordie might be introduced to all the beauties of +this wonderful volume. Geordie kept looking at her as she turned the +leaves with a somewhat pitiful gaze, and presently he said in a low +tone, "Jean, come a little nearer. I want to speak to ye, Jeanie. Do ye +ken I'm maybe goin' til the grand school the good Maister keeps waitin' +for us in the heavenly land? And I'll be learnin' a deal o' things there +that we canna learn down here," he added, with a smile; and then he +paused.</p> + +<p>Jean looked up from her boot with bewildered eyes as she listened to +Geordie's words; a grave expression came into her face, but the shadow +was only caused by her not understanding what he meant, for she knew +that Geordie occasionally went beyond her depth.</p> + +<p>"I'll no ever herd Gowrie's cows again, Jean, or wait at the fences for +Elsie and you. I'm dyin' Jeanie," he added in a hoarse whisper, as he +gazed sorrowfully at the little girl.</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking the meaning of these words, and little Jean, +dropping her precious book, burst into loud sobbing, as she flung +herself on Geordie.</p> + +<p>Grace had been watching the boy with a sinking heart, and a great fear +began to take possession of her that what he said might be true, as a +terrible spasm of agony crossed his face, and a groan of pain escaped +him. She looked anxiously to see if there was any sign of the doctor +coming, and taking little Jean aside, she told her that if she loved +Geordie she must be brave and quiet, even though he was so very ill, as +he seemed to think. Then she tried to speak some soothing words of +comfort, but little Jean wailed out with a fresh burst of sorrow:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, why didn't God keep him from Blackie, if he loves him +as ye say? Ye mind how ye read to us in the Bible about him saving the +herd-laddie out o' the jaws o' the bear; oh, but, I think, he might +have taken care of our Geordie;" and poor little Jean would not be +comforted.</p> + +<p>"Where's granny?" Geordie had whispered, and Elsie rose from her post at +Geordie's head and flitted away like a little noiseless ghost to find +the old woman. She met her at the farm, where, having finished her cup +of tea, she was being shown some of Mistress Gowrie's feathered +favourites in the farmyard.</p> + +<p>"Mistress Gowrie, he's not better, as ye think; he says he's dyin', and +wants to see granny," Elsie said, with quivering lips, as she reached +them.</p> + +<p>"Dying, child, nonsense! what do you mean?" said the farmer's wife, +looking at Elsie to see if she was not dreaming. But Elsie looked +terribly wide-awake and sorrow-stricken, and Mistress Gowrie went off in +search of her husband.</p> + +<p>Then Granny Baxter began to perceive that there was something wrong, and +presently Elsie succeeded in making her understand, and began to guide +her slow steps to where her grandson still lay. Oh, how slow they were, +Elsie thought, as she glanced along the straight field path still to be +crossed before they reached the knolls, and thought of what might be +going on there. But had not Geordie wanted to see his grandmother, and +surely she might endure for him who had done so much for her? So the +little girl kept close by the old woman's side, who leant her wrinkled +hand on Elsie's shoulder, while, with the help of her staff in the +other, she hobbled along, with her eyes fixed upon the ground, groaning +and muttering about this terrible blow that seemed likely to fall upon +her.</p> + +<p>"Granny, granny, I've been wearyin' for you," said Geordie, holding out +both his hands, when at last Elsie's patience had guided the old woman +to the spot. "Oh, but I'm no able to make her hear. Nae words o' mine +can travel to her ear, and I had much to say to her," Geordie cried, +with a suppressed sob, as some terrible internal pain seemed to seize +him.</p> + +<p>The old woman had seated herself by his side, and her withered fingers +wandered trembling among his hair, as she moaned helplessly, "Oh, +laddie, laddie, what's this that's come upon us?"</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Geordie seemed to remember something, and, smiling brightly, +he feebly raised his hand to his jacket-pocket, and drew out the little +chamois bag, containing the slowly-gathered store of money with which he +intended to buy the ear-trumpet for his poor deaf granny.</p> + +<p>"I gathered the last sixpence yestreen, for holding the minister's +horse," he said, as he laid the bag in her hand, "It's to buy a thing +that makes deaf folk hear, granny. But she can't understand me, Miss +Cam'ell," he murmured, sadly, as he looked at Grace, who was leaning +over him; "and, oh, I would have liked well to tell her before I go away +about the Good Shepherd that you first told me about, Miss Cam'ell. I +dinna think she understands right what a Friend he can be to a body; and +I've always been waitin' till I got that horn for makin her hear to tell +her all about him, for it's no a thing that a body wad just like to roar +at the tap o' their voice. But you'll maybe speak to her some of the +things ye spak' to us, Miss Cam'ell. Ye'll have one less at the school +now, ye see," he added, smiling sadly; and then turning with a look of +tender pity on his grandmother, who watched him with wistful eyes, as if +she knew that his lips were moving for her, he said, "Oh, tell her to +listen to his voice, and let the sound into her heart. He was aye able +to mak' deaf folk hear, wasn't he, Miss Cam'ell?" said Geordie, with a +bright smile as he turned to his young teacher.</p> +<br> + +<p>They had now got ready a sort of litter, on which they meant to carry +him to the farm; for Mistress Gowrie felt convinced that only more +comfortable surroundings and a visit from the doctor was necessary for +his complete recovery, and was resolved that no care of nursing on her +part should be wanting to atone for any past indifference to the welfare +of the little herd-boy with which she might reproach herself.</p> + +<p>Geordie, seeing her anxiety to perform this deed of kindness, at last +consented that they should take him from his lowly heather couch, and +carry him to all the comforts of the best bedroom at Gowrie. But each +time they tried to lift him the boy got so deathly pale, and seemed to +suffer so intensely, that even Mistress Gowrie was obliged to +acknowledge that it might be best to wait till the doctor came. Indeed, +it soon became evident to all that Blackie's blows had touched some +vital part, and Geordie's herding days were done.</p> + +<p>He lay for a little while with closed eyes, seeming thankful to be +undisturbed, and a silence fell on the group round him, not broken when +Walter Campbell joined it; for a glance from Grace, and a look at +Geordie's face, told him all. He stood there, in the freshness and +strength of his youth, looking at the ebbing life of the boy whom he +felt then as if he would have died to save. How he longed to tell him +of all the blessing his words had brought to his soul, of the life-long +gratitude which must surround his memory; but it was too late. Walter +felt that he could not disturb the passing soul with anything so +personal; but in the land where Geordie was going they would meet one +day; and he would keep his thanks till then.</p> + +<p>The silence had not been broken for several minutes. Poor little Jean +had been trying to keep very brave and quiet, since Grace explained to +her how much her noisy grief would vex Geordie. But Elsie, who had +returned to her post at Geordie's head, and was seated silently there, +now gave a smothered sob, which seemed to fall on Geordie's ear. He +opened his blue eyes, and looking wistfully about, said in a faint +whisper, "Elsie, I didna know ye was here. I saw you on the +stepping-stones just when I was meetin' Blackie, but I thought you had +been away home before now; it surely must be far on in the gloamin'. Eh, +Elsie, but I'll no be able to keep the tryst for the bramble gatherin' +wi' you," he said, in a mournful tone, turning towards her, and +referring to a long-planned holiday, when they were to go together to +search for brambles for Mistress Gowrie and the forester's wife's joint +jam making. "But, Elsie, speak to me," he continued, feebly, holding +out his hand, for he could not see her face where she sat, "We'll keep +our tryst in the bonnie land beside the green pastures and the still +waters ye often read to me about. Will we no', Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Geordie, I can't bear it. Why did you no let Blackie get hold o' +me? Oh, Geordie, Geordie!" Elsie sobbed, as she crept round within sight +of the boy, and knelt beside him with clasped hands and lines of agony +on her face, that made the fair child look like a suffering woman.</p> + +<p>Geordie turned his dying eyes upon her with a look of mingled love and +sorrow, which none who saw it could ever forget; and stretching out both +his hands, he said, "Oh, Elsie, will ye no give me one kiss afore I +dee?"</p> + +<p>And Elsie lifted up her fair face, which had been covered with her +hands, and bending down, kissed the dying lips. Then, with a look of +unutterable gladness and contentment, Geordie closed his eyes as if he +was going to. sleep.</p> + +<p>Walter Campbell turned away for a moment, for, as he afterwards told one +of his shipmates, "It was more than a fellow could stand, and he didn't +mind confessing that he hadn't stood it." Presently he hurriedly joined +the little group again, determined that Geordie must yet hear before he +went away how his faithful words had, through God's grace burnt +themselves into a wayward heart, and set a dead soul on fire. But he +found that another Voice was falling on Geordie's ear, which was closed +to all earthly sounds now; even that greeting to faithful ones which +bids them enter into the joy of their Lord.</p> + +<p>And so the poor bruised body did lie in Mistress Gowrie's +woodruff-scented best bedroom, and among her snowy linen, that night +after all, but Geordie was not there; his home was henceforth in the +many mansions of the Father's house.</p> + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/107.png" alt="End of Chapter V"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/108.png" alt="Chapter VI"> </div> + +<h3>AN OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW NAME</h3> +<br> + + +<p> <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/n.png" alt="N"> +ow, children, here we are at Kirklands, at last," said a lady with a +pleasant voice, to an eager-looking group of boys and girls, who were +clustering round her, in a large open travelling carriage, which had +just drawn up in front of an old gateway, and waited for admittance.</p> + +<p>"Kirklands at last," was re-echoed among the little party. The two boys +seated beside the coachman glanced round at the occupants of the inside +seats, feeling sure that, their higher position secured them superior +information, and shouted in chorus, "Mamma, mamma, Kirklands at last."</p> + +<p>"As if we didn't know that as well as you. do," shouted back Willie, a +curly-headed little fellow, seated beside his mother, who had a secret +hankering after the higher place of his elder brothers, along with a +desire to prove to them that their position was in no way superior to +his own.</p> + +<p>The old gates closed behind them, and the carriage bowled swiftly along +the smooth avenue, with its branching elms overhead. The pleasant vistas +of green, on all sides, were very grateful to the eyes of the young +travellers, wearied with miles of a white dusty turnpike-road, on a hot +July afternoon. They looked with delighted gaze on the new fair scene, +and thought what happy evenings they would have among those green glades +during the long summer days.</p> + +<p>But there was one of the party to whom this scene was not new, but old +and familiar, written over with many memories, some well-nigh overlaid +in the turmoil of life, but which flickered up with new vividness as she +looked on the calm sunlighted scene, and thought of other days. The +years had brought many changes to her, and it was with mingled feelings +that she gazed on this unchanged spot. Each grey-lichened rock stood out +from the mossy floor with a face that was familiar; all the little +winding woodland paths, she knew where they led to, and could take the +children to many a nook where wild flowers and delicate green ferns +still loved to grow, at they did long ago when she used to gather them +in these woods.</p> + +<p>"Seventeen years ago! is it possible?" she murmured, as she leaned back +in a corner of the carriage, and thought of the many leaves in the book +of her life which had been folded-down since she took farewell of these +green glades in her girlish days. And as she sits, quietly thinking, +while the little group round her are making the green aisles resound +with their merry laughter, we fancy, as we glance at her face, that it +is one we have seen before in this valley. The "stealthy day by day" has +certainly done its work; the outline of Grace's cheek is sharper than it +used to be, and the eager, speaking eyes have lost somewhat of their +fire, but there is a calm gladness in their gaze as she glances at the +joyous faces round her, that speaks of lessons learnt, and sorrows past, +during chequered days which have lain between the autumn evening, when +we saw her last, and this July afternoon, when she is coming with her +"two bands" to the home of her girlhood.</p> + +<p>Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, had passed away from this world during that +autumn seventeen years ago, and Grace had never revisited Kirklands +since. Walter, to whom it belonged, was still a naval officer. His home +on the sea had still more fascination for him than the inland beauties +of Kirklands, which had been left to strangers during the intervening +years.</p> + +<p>For some time past it had stood empty and tenantless, and Walter had +suggested that his sister, who had just come from a long sojourn abroad, +should, with her children, take up her abode there. Her husband, Colonel +Foster, was still on foreign service; and Grace, who longed to see the +old home after all her wanderings, had readily agreed to go with her +little flock and introduce them to the spot which was their dreamland of +romance, the historic ground of all the pleasantest stories in their +mother's mental library, often ransacked for their benefit.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster's servants were already at Kirklands, making preparations +for the arrival. The old rooms were being opened up once again, and +shafts of golden sunlight streamed through the long-darkened windows, on +the dark-panelled walls, as if to herald joyously the good news that +"life and thought" were coming back to the deserted house.</p> + +<p>As the carriage followed the windings of the avenue, the grey gables of +the old mansion began to peep through the green boughs, their first +appearance being announced by a jubilant chorus from the elder boys on +the box, which made little Willie feel painfully that his range of +vision was far from satisfactory. Presently, however, the timeworn walls +could be seen by all the party, as the carriage wheeled round the old +terrace, and the travellers reached the end of their journey. Then eager +feet began to trot up and down the grass-grown steps, and climb on the +old carved railing, where the griffins fascinated little Grace by their +stony stare, as they used to do her mother years ago. The long-silent +corridors began to resound with joyous laughter, as the merry party +rambled through the old rooms, wishing to identify each place with +historical recollections, founded on their mother's and Uncle Walter's +stories. And was that really the tree that Uncle Walter made believe to +be the rigging of a ship, and one day fell from one of its highest +boughs? And where used they to keep their rabbits, and in what room did +they learn their lessons? These, and such questions, were generally +asked in chorus, to which their mother had to endeavour to reply, as she +wandered among the familiar rooms with her merry boys and girls.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, do you know what I should like to see best of all? Two things, +mamma," whispered little Grace, as she caught hold of her mother's +dress.</p> + +<p>"And what would my little girl like to see —the toys mamma used to play +with when she was a little girl like Gracie? I believe I've carried the +key of the chest where they lie buried about with me all these years;" +and Mrs. Foster began to look in the little basket she held in her hand +for a shining bunch of keys.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't the toys I meant, though I should like to see them very +much," replied the little girl, who was more timid and gentle than her +brothers and sisters, and generally required more encouragement to +unburden her small mind, "it is the room where you taught Geordie that I +want to see—and Geordie's grave among the heather."</p> + +<p>Some quick ears had caught a name that seemed to be a household word, +and louder voices said, as the boy's clustered round their mother, "Oh +yes, mamma, do show us where you taught Geordie and little Jean."</p> + +<p>So Grace led the way through the dim passages that had once frightened +little Jean, and whose gloom now made the small Grace cling close to her +mother's side. The still-room was dark and unopened, for the servants +had not thought it necessary to include it in their preparations. Grace +went to the window and undid the fastenings, and the yellow afternoon +sun streamed on the dusty wooden bench where Geordie, and Jean, and +Elsie used to sit.</p> + +<p>The merry voices were hushed for a moment, and the children looked in +awed silence into the little room, as if it had been a shrine.</p> + +<p>After they had gazed long and silently, and their mother went to fasten +the window again, she said, "Children, we will come here and read God's +Word on Sunday afternoons, as the little company you know about used to +do long ago; and I hope you will all listen to the Good Shepherd's +voice, and follow it as Geordie did;" and presently the children trooped +quietly away along the dark vaulted passages.</p> + +<p>There was no faithful Margery now to be trusted with everything, and +able to put things straight in the twinkling of an eye, as her young +mistress used to declare she alone was capable of doing, so Mrs. Foster +had some unpacking and arranging preliminaries to superintend before she +could join her eager little party out of doors. But when tea was over, +and the sun had begun to scatter its orange and crimson tints over the +Kirklands valley, Grace thought she would like to take a stroll among +some familiar places before the darkness came.</p> + +<p>After lingering on the old terrace for a little, she gathered her boys +and girls round her, and said she was going to take them across the +park. She wanted to visit a place she remembered well, a pleasant angle +of a rising glade of birches, where she once stood mourning over the +traces of an uprooted cottage. But Grace knew that another home had +grown on the ruins of the former dwelling, and to it she bent her steps +now, for there was one of its inmates whom she longed to see. There was +something of the mingled feeling of interest and romance with which her +children wore viewing these now yet familiar scenes, in Grace's desire +to look on a face she had not seen for many years. Its image would rise +before her, chubby, smiling, and childlike, as of old; and then she +remembered the evening when she had first seen it tear-stained and sad, +as she crossed this path with the little fat hand in hers, as her own +Grace's was now.</p> + +<p>But Joan had not shed many tears since then. There was no happier home +in all the valley than the white cottage, over which the birch-trees +lovingly stretched their delicate fringes, her husband, the village +carrier, used to think when he came within sight of it, after his day's +journey was over, his parcels all delivered, and his horses "suppered" +for the night. Generally his bright-looking wife was hovering near the +door, waiting his coming with a little group round her as merry as the +one that was now making the woods of Kirklands ring with their +light-hearted laughter.</p> + +<p>Grace had not told the children that she meant to take them to see +little Jean that evening. She wanted first to go alone to the cottage +and see her quietly there, for she had many things to hear and ask. +Still, Grace had not been altogether a stranger to the home life there. +Sometimes a letter, written and addressed with laborious carefulness, +had followed her to remote foreign stations, and brought pleasant +memories of dewy heather and fragrant birches as she read it among +waving oleanders and palms. During all those years Grace had watched +over Jean's welfare, and many things in her pretty home told of her +thoughtful remembrance of Geordie's sister.</p> + +<div> <img src="images/117.png" alt="OLD SCENES REVISITED"> </div> + +<p>The arrival of the family at Kirklands had taken place a few days +earlier than was intended, so Jean had not happened to hear the news, +and was all unconscious of the pleasure in store for her. How often she +had longed to see the "young leddy of Kirklands," as she still called +her, how many times she said to her husband that she would be sure to +know her anywhere, though it was so many years since she had looked +into her face. But now, as Jean sat matron-like with her sewing, in +front of her cottage, while her children played near, she wondered what +"strange lady" could be coming along the path. She called her straying +little ones to her, in case they should be in the way, but she noticed +that the stranger did not seem to think so, for she had just stopped +kindly to stroke one little flaxen head, and Jean, with a mother's +pride, felt grateful that "her bairn should be respeckit among the +rest." But when the lady, still holding the little boy's hand, began to +climb the mossy bank, and came towards her, Jean thought she had surely +seen that face before. Though not till Grace had smiled, and said, +holding out her hand, "Jean, is it possible you do not know me?" did she +recognise her old teacher.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, Miss Cam'ell!" she said, with a cry of delight as she +dropped her mending and rose to meet her. "Is it really yourself? I +canna believe my verra eyes."</p> + +<p>And when Grace gazed questioningly into the serene, beaming face of the +little matron, she saw it had kept all that was best of its childish +lineaments, and felt with thankful gladness that Geordie's Shepherd had +not forgotten little Jean. Meanwhile the little loitering party came +along the road, and seeing their mother engaged in conversation beside +the pretty cottage door, they were eager to know who of all the old +friends she was talking to. Willie was the first to clamber up the mossy +bank and reach the cottage. The others were following, when he joined +them with an expression of mingled interest and disappointment on his +face.</p> + +<p>"I say Walter—Grace,—can you guess who mamma is speaking to? Well, +it's Geordie's sister,—little Jean."</p> + +<p>Then they all crept shyly near their mother while she talked at the +cottage door, glancing with interest at the inmate. But when little +Grace could find an opportunity she whispered in a tone of +disappointment, "Oh, mamma, is it really true what Willie says?" and +then she added with a sigh, when Willie's news had been confirmed, "Oh, +I'm so sorry; I do wish she could have stayed a little girl."</p> + +<p>Her mother smiled at the childish idea; but she presently remembered +that it was as the little herd-boy Geordie's image still lived in her +memory, though nearly twenty summers had come and gone since he entered +on that life in which earthly days and years are merged into eternity, +where the old and feeble renew their strength, and the young grow wiser +than the wisest hero.</p> + +<p>Grace's boys and girls had all to be introduced by name to the smiling +little matron, whose eye rested on them more or less appreciatively, as +she recognised a likeness to their mother or their Uncle Walter.</p> + +<p>Presently Grace turned to the little group, and said softly, "Children, +would you like to come to the knolls of heather on the other side of the +hill? I am going there now."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, mamma, I want to go," chimed an eager though subdued chorus of +voices; and then the childish feet followed the two mothers as they +wandered slowly through the birch trees and crossed the path which led +to the stepping-stones. The water still splashed and gurgled noisily +round them, and the knolls of heather stretched with unchanged contour +on the other side. Beyond rose the white gables and thatched roof of the +old farm of Gowrie; but the former master and mistress were gone now; +and the young farmer, who had taken the lease, chafed considerably that +he had not been able to include the bit of heathery pasture lands in the +fields, seeing it had been previously secured by another tenant. It was +the only piece of land owned by Grace in the valley, and through all +these years of absence she had jealously guarded any encroachment upon +her territory. Old Gowrie had, at her earnest request, relinquished his +right to that portion of his domain in her favour, for he ceased to +wish to make it one of his economies to have his cattle grazing there.</p> + +<p>So it happened that though the pastoral valley had considerably changed +its face, and had much of its ruggedness smoothed away in the course of +years, this stretch of heather remained unreclaimed. It was still a +thoroughfare, but a very safe one now, for its only dwelling was a +grave.</p> + +<p>On the day after Geordie's death Grace had gone to see the last +resting-place destined for him in the little village churchyard. It was +a dreary patch of ground which looked as if the suns ray's never +penetrated through its high walls on the graves below. Crumbling +grey-lichened headstones peeped dismally from among the long dank grass, +and the little paths were overgrown with weeds. Everywhere there were +traces of unloving carelessness of the dead. And though Grace knew full +well that the silent sleepers below little heeded this selfish +forgetfulness, these surroundings sent a chill to her heart. She thought +she should like all that was left here of her boy-friend to lie in +pleasanter places. Far better he should rest underneath the heathery +sod among the pleasant breezy knolls, consecrated by many a heavenward +thought of the lonely little herd-boy, and by faithful words spoken in +an accepted time to a wayward brother's heart. So Grace made her suit to +the old farmer at a time when his heart was softened, and he was not +unwilling to part with a spot written over with a stinging memory. Miss +Hume, without even consulting Mr. Graham, had agreed to the transfer of +the land; and so it happened that Grace, like the patriarch long ago, a +stranger and sojourner in the land, held as a possession a +burying-place.</p> + +<p>The bright summer day had reached its dying hour when the little group +stood on the bank of the river. The yellow sunlight was merging into +deep orange and crimson, tinging with a wonderful variety of tints the +lower landscape. The rippling water looked as if a sudden cross current +of red wine had come flowing into it, and the little hillocks beyond, +golden with gorse, were steeped in the mellow light.</p> + +<p>The children followed their mother and Jean, with awed faces and hushed +voices, along the little gleaming sheep-walk, fringed by sweet wild +thyme and dog violets, with tendrils of deerhorn moss flinging their +arms across the path. At length they came on a little marble slab, by +the side of one of the knolls. The last golden shafts of sunlight were +stealing over its memorial words, and the young eyes read in silence:—</p> + +IN MEMORY OF<br> +<br> +GEORDIE BAXTER,<br> +<br> +Who went to the Fold above on the<br> +7th of August, 185—.<br> +<br> +"The Lord is my Shepherd;<br> +I shall not want."<br> + +<p>Presently, the silent group heard footsteps behind, and when Grace +glanced round she saw a woman, with two little boys by her side, coming +along the little path towards the headstone. She stopped suddenly when +she saw the strangers, evidently surprised by the unusual presence of +visitors in that unfrequented spot, and, turning down another path, went +away in the opposite direction. "Who is that, Jean?" asked Mrs. Foster; +"surely I have seen the face before."</p> + +<p>"Dear heart, do ye not know her? It's Elsie Gray. We dinna think, John +and me, that her bonnie face is much changed; but then we see it every +day," Jean replied, looking fondly after the retreating figure.</p> + +<p>"Ah, is it really Elsie? I was just going to ask about her, Jean. But +who are those children with her? I thought you told me in one of your +letters that she lived quite alone?" asked Grace, stooping down to pluck +a bluebell from Geordie's grave, instead of hurrying after this old +friend, as the little Grace expected her mother to do.</p> + +<p>Then the little matron went on to narrate how Elsie's home was still the +forester's pretty cottage, though her father and mother were both dead. +She had never been married, which Jean remarked was a great pity, and +hinted that a good many other people were of her opinion. But how the +parish of Kirklands could ever have got on without her if she had gone +away, or what life would be if she had not Elsie to go to in every joy +and sorrow, Jean could not imagine, as she said she frequently remarked +to "her John." Nobody's hands seemed to be fuller of helpful work, and +nobody did it more cheerily, than Elsie Gray.</p> + +<p>Then Jean explained that the two little boys were orphans whom she had +taken to her comfortable home; and "it wasn't the first pair o' laddies +she had made good for something," Jean added, admiringly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, don't you want to speak to her? She has such a nice, +beautiful face. Do let me run after her, and ask her to stop for a +minute," said little Grace, eagerly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster glanced musingly across the knolls at Elsie's slender +figure, as she sauntered peacefully home with her charge, and then she +said, "No, my dear, we shall not trouble Elsie to-night; but I shall +take you with me to see her in her own home to-morrow, if you wish it. I +shall be going there."</p> + +<p>The cold, grey light was beginning to steal over the woods of Kirklands, +and the rosy tints that still hovered about the knolls would soon give +place to the gloom of night, so Grace gathered her little party, and +turned her steps towards the river.</p> + +<p>The merry voices, hushed for a time, began again to resound through the +still evening air, and the children went hurrying on with Jean, who had +told them she must be going home to see after the milking of her cows, +and cordially responded to their wish to join her at the process.</p> + +<p>So Grace had been following slowly, and when she crossed the +stepping-stones, she looked lingeringly back, for, with the sound of the +rippling water had come the remembered echoes of Geordie's voice as she +heard it first. Then she called to mind the chilly spring day when she +had started on the search, pronounced so hopeless by old Adam the +gardener, and how gleefully she hailed the unexpected appearance of the +little herd-boy. She smiled as she remembered the childish eagerness +that made her fear that he would not appear at Kirklands, as he had +promised, and his rather reproachful reply that he "Aye keepit his +trysts." And then there rose mingled memories of those trysts, which be +had so faithfully kept in the little still-room, of her own childish +incapacity for the work she had so longed to do, and of the sense of +failure that hung over it so long.</p> + +<p>And as she turned to follow her merry boys, who were clambering up the +mossy bank, where the silvery bark of the old birch-trees were still +streaked with rosy sunset hues, she felt how much she had learnt from +the tender, earnest heart of Geordie.</p> + +<div> +"And comforted, she praised the grace<br> +Which him had led to be,<br> +An early seeker of that Face<br> +Which he should early see."<br> + +</div> + +<br> +<br> + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/127.png" alt="End of Chapter VI"> </div> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 12765 ***</div> +</body> + +</html> + diff --git a/12765-h/images/002.png b/12765-h/images/002.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cc4ae06 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/002.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/003.png b/12765-h/images/003.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..528bf8d --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/003.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/005.png b/12765-h/images/005.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e840d16 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/005.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/026.png b/12765-h/images/026.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..84cb79b --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/026.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/027.png b/12765-h/images/027.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bb03cf2 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/027.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/046.png b/12765-h/images/046.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..487fad1 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/046.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/047.png b/12765-h/images/047.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4c1bc2d --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/047.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/055.png b/12765-h/images/055.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a34c1cb --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/055.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/070.png b/12765-h/images/070.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b6fc963 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/070.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/071.png b/12765-h/images/071.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2e8723f --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/071.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/086.png b/12765-h/images/086.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a176365 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/086.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/087.png b/12765-h/images/087.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..22d2aa5 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/087.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/107.png b/12765-h/images/107.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..a093888 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/107.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/108.png b/12765-h/images/108.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..af8cda8 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/108.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/117.png b/12765-h/images/117.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..478d7e2 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/117.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/127.png b/12765-h/images/127.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9e48f5a --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/127.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/g.png b/12765-h/images/g.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..cd8a50f --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/g.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/i.png b/12765-h/images/i.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa5e77b --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/i.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/it.png b/12765-h/images/it.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9b852c3 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/it.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/m.png b/12765-h/images/m.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..3ca07d0 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/m.png diff --git a/12765-h/images/n.png b/12765-h/images/n.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..1e28a06 --- /dev/null +++ b/12765-h/images/n.png diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e2d0887 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #12765 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/12765) diff --git a/old/12765-8.txt b/old/12765-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..1cf7348 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12765-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2835 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Geordie's Tryst, by Mrs. Milne Rae + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Geordie's Tryst + A Tale of Scottish Life + +Author: Mrs. Milne Rae + +Release Date: June 28, 2004 [EBook #12765] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORDIE'S TRYST *** + + + + +Produced by Miranda van de Heijning and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +GEORDIE'S TRYST. + + +A TALE OF SCOTTISH LIFE. + + +[Attributed to Mrs. Milne Rae] + +[Illustration: GEORDIE'S HERDING ENDED.] + +GEORDIE'S TRYST. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +GRACE CAMPBELL. + +[Illustration] + + +It was a chilly Scotch spring day. The afternoon sun glistened with +fitful, feeble rays on the windows of the old house of Kirklands, and +unpleasant little gusts of east wind came eddying round its ancient +gables, and sweeping along its broad walks and shrubberies, sending a +chill to the hearts of all the young green things that were struggling +into life. + +On the time-worn steps of the grey mansion there stood a girl, cloaked +and bonneted for a walk, notwithstanding the uninviting weather. + +"It's a fule's errand, I assure ye, Miss Grace, and on such an +afternoon, too. I've been askin' at old Adam the gardener, and he says +there isna one o' the kind left worth mindin' in all the valley o' +Kirklands. So do not go wanderin' on such an errand in this bitter wind, +missy." + +The speaker was an old woman, standing in the doorway, glancing with an +expression of kindly anxiety towards the girl, who leant on one of the +carved griffins of the old stone railing. + +Grace had been looking at the speaker with troubled eyes as she listened +to her remonstrance, and now she said, meditatively, "Does old Adam +really say so, Margery?" Then with a quick gesture she turned to go down +the steps, adding cheerily, "Well, there's no harm in trying, and as for +the wind, that doesn't matter a bit. It's what Walter would call a nice +breezy day. I'm really going, nursie. Shut the door, and keep your old +self warm. I shall be home again by the time aunt has finished her +afternoon's sleep." And Grace turned quickly away, not in the direction +of the sheltered elm avenue, but across the park, by the path which led +most quickly beyond the grounds. Presently she slackened her pace, and +turning for a moment she glanced rather ruefully towards the high walls +of the old garden, as if prudence dictated that she should seek fuller +information there, before she set out on this search, which she had +planned that afternoon. The old nurse's words on the subject seemed to +have sent a chilling gust to her heart, harder to bear than the bitter +spring wind. Old Adam certainly knew the countryside better than anybody +else, she pondered, and he seemed to have given it as his decision that +she would not find her search successful. + +Was it a rare plant growing in the valley that Grace was in search of? +Then, surely, the gardener was right; she should wait till the warm +sunshine came, and the south winds wafted sweet scents about, leading to +where the pleasant flowers grow among the cozy moss. Or did she mean to +go to the green velvety haughs of the winding river to get her +fishing-rod and tackle into working order at the little boat-house, and +try to tempt some unwary trout to eat his last supper, as she and her +brother Walter used to do in sunny summer evenings long ago? + +These had been very pleasant days, and their lingering memories came +hovering round Grace as she stood once again among the familiar haunts, +after an absence of years. Echoes of merry ringing tones, in which her +own mingled, seemed to resound through the wooded paths, where only the +parching wind whistled shrilly to-day, and a boyish voice seemed still +to call impatiently under the lozenge-paned window of the old +school-room, "Gracie, Gracie, are you not done with lessons yet? Do come +out and play." And how dreary "Noel and Chapsal" used to grow all of a +sudden when that invitation came, and with what relentless slowness the +hands of the old clock dragged through the lesson-hour still to run. + +But the quaint old window has the shutters on it now, and the eager face +that used to seek his caged playmate through its bars is looking out on +new lands from his wandering home at sea. The little girl, too, who used +to sit in the dim school-room seems to hear other voices calling to her +this afternoon. + +And while Grace stands hesitating whether, after all, it might be wise +to go into the garden to hear what old Adam has to say before she +proceeded to the high road, we shall try to find what earnest quest sent +her out this afternoon, in spite of her old nurse's remonstrances and +the east wind. + +Grace Campbell's father and mother died when she was very young, and +since then her home had been with her aunt. For the last few years Miss +Hume had been so infirm that she did not feel able to undertake the +journey to Kirklands, a small property in the north of Scotland, which +she inherited from her father. Her winter home was Edinburgh, and Miss +Hume for some years had only ventured on a short journey to the nearest +watering-place, while her country home stood silent and deserted, with +only the ancient gardener and his wife wandering about through the +darkened rooms and the old garden, with its laden fruit-trees and its +flowers run to seed. But, to Grace's great delight, her aunt had +announced some months before that if she felt strong enough for the +journey, she meant to go to Kirklands early in the spring. It seemed as +if in her fading autumnal time she longed to see the familiar woods and +dells of her childhood's home grow green again with returning life. So +the darkened rooms had been opened to the sun again, and on the day +before our story begins, some of the former inmates had taken possession +of them. + +The three years during which Grace had been absent from Kirklands had +proved very eventful to her in many ways. There had been some changes in +her outer life. Walter, her only brother and playmate, had left home to +go to sea. They had only had one passing visit from him since, so +changed in his midshipman's dress, with his broadened shoulders and +bronzed face, and so full of sailor life and talk, that his playmate had +hardly composure of mind to discover till he was gone that the same +loving heart still beat under the blue dress and bright buttons. And +while she thought of him with a new pride, she felt an undercurrent of +sadness in the consciousness that the pleasant threads of daily +intercourse had been broken, and the old childish playfellow had passed +away. + +But as the golden gate of childhood thus closed on Grace Campbell, +another gate opened for her which led to pleasant places. It had, +indeed, been waiting open for her ever since she came into the world, +though she had often passed it by unheeded. But at last there came to +Grace a glimpse of the shining light which still guides the way of +seeking souls to "yonder wicket gate." She began to feel an intense +longing to enter there and begin that new life to which it leads. She +knocked, and found that it was open for her, and entering there she met +the gracious Guide who had beckoned her to come, whispering in the +silence of her heart, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Not long +after Grace had begun to walk in this path, an event happened which +proved to her like the visit to the "Interpreter's House" in the +Pilgrim's story; but in order to explain its full eventfulness, we must +go back to tell of earlier days in her aunt's home. + +On Sunday mornings Grace usually drove with her aunt to church in +decorous state. When Walter was at home he made one of the carriage +party, though generally under protest, declaring that it would be "ever +so much jollier to walk than to be bowled along in that horrid old +rumble," as he used irreverently to designate his aunt's rather antique +chariot. When they arrived at church, the children followed their aunt's +slow steps to one of the pews in the gallery, where Miss Hume used to +take the precautionary measure of separating them by sending Grace to +the top of the seat, and placing herself between the vivacious Walter +and his playmate. Notwithstanding this precaution, they generally +contrived to find comfortable recreative resources during the service, +bringing all their inventive energy to bear on creating new diversions +as each Sunday came round. There was always their Aunt Hume's fur cloak +to stroke the wrong way, if there was nothing more diverting within +reach; had it only been the cat, whose sentiments regarding a like +treatment of her fur were too well known to Walter, he felt that the +pleasure would have been greater. Sometimes, indeed, the amusements were +of a strictly mental nature, conducted in the "chambers of imagery." +Miss Hume would feel gratified by the stillness of posture and the +earnest gaze in her nephew's eyes. They were certainly not fixed +directly on the preacher, but surely the boy must be listening, or he +would never be so quiet. Grace, however, was in the secret, and knew +better. Walter had confided to her that he had got such "a jolly +make-believe" to think about in church. The great chandelier which hung +from the centre of the church ceiling, with its poles, and chains, and +brackets, was transformed in his imagination to a ship's mast and +rigging, where he climbed and swung, and performed marvellous feats, +also in imagination, be it understood. And so it happened that Grace +could guess where her brother's thoughts were when he sat gazing +dreamily at the huge gilded chandelier of the city church. + +Other imaginings had sometimes grown round it for Grace when it was all +lit up in the short winter days at afternoon service, and queer lights +and shadows fell on the gilded cherubs that decorated it, till their +wings seemed to move and hover over the heads of the congregation. To +Grace's childish mind they had been the embodiment of angels ever since +she could remember; and even long after childish things were put away +there remained a strange link between her conception of angelic beings +and those burnished cherubs whose serene, shining faces looked down +benignantly over the drowsy congregation on dark winter afternoons. + +But all these imaginings certainly came under the catalogue of +"wandering thoughts," from which the old minister always prayed at the +opening of the service that they might be delivered. So it is to be +feared that the sermon had not even the chance of the wayside seed in +the parable of sinking into the children's hearts. The words of her +aunt's old minister had as yet proved little more than an outside sound +to Grace, though she was in the habit of listening more observantly than +her brother. But there came a day when, amidst those familiar +surroundings, with the molten cherubs looking serenely down on her, she +heard words which made her heart burn within her, and kindled a flame +which lasted as long as life. + +It was on a Sunday afternoon in November, not long after Walter left. +Miss Hume was ailing, and unable to go to church, so it was arranged +that Margery should accompany Grace. The old nurse attended the same +church, and Grace had been in the habit of going under her wing when her +aunt was obliged to remain at home. The walk to church through the +crowded streets was a pleasant change, and Grace was in high spirits +when she ensconced herself at the top of Margery's seat--which was a +much better observatory than her aunt's pew--where every thing could be +seen that was interesting and amusing within the four walls. Besides, +there were small amenities connected with a seat in nurse's pew which +had great attractions for Grace when she was a little girl, and had +still a lingering charm for her. In the pew behind there sat a worthy +couple, friends of Margery, who exchanged friendly salutations with her +on Sunday, always including a kindly nod of recognition to her charges +if they happened to be with her. Then, at a certain juncture in the +service, the worthy tinsmith, for that was his calling, would hand +across the book-board his ancient silver snuff-box, of the contents of +which he himself partook freely and noisily. Of course, Margery only +used it politely, after the manner of a scent-bottle; and then Grace +came in for her turn of it, with a warning glance from nurse to beware +of staining her hat-strings, or any other serious effects from the +odorous powder. If Walter happened to be invited to enjoy the +privilege, he always contrived to secrete a deposit of the snuff between +his finger and thumb, being most anxious to imitate the tinsmith's +accomplishment. He was, however, afraid to make his first essay in +church, in case of sneezing symptoms, and before he had a chance of a +quiet moment to make the experiment when they left the pew, he used +generally to be caught by Margery, and summoned to put on his glove like +a gentleman, and any resistance was sure to end in the discovery and +loss of the precious pinch of snuff. Then the tinsmith's wife had also +her own congenial resources for comfort during service, which she +delighted to share with her neighbours. Grace used to receive a little +tap on the shoulder, and, on looking round, a box of peppermint lozenges +lay waiting her in the old woman's fat palm. These were very homely +little interchanges of friendship, but they made part of the happy +childish world to Grace, and years after, when the old pew knew her no +more, and she asked admittance to it as a stranger, she glanced round in +the vain hope of catching a glimpse of the broad, shining, kindly faces +of the old couple, feeling that to see them in their place would bring +back many pleasanter bygone associations than snuff and peppermint +lozenges. + +On this Sunday afternoon Grace perceived that there was something out of +the ordinary routine in prospect. The pews were filling more quickly +than they usually did. Strangers were gathering in the passage, and a +general flutter of excitement and expectation seemed everywhere to +prevail. + +"What is going to happen, I wonder, Margery?" whispered Grace, +impatiently; and presently the tinsmith leant across the book-board and +kindly volunteered the information that they were going to have a +"strange minister the night, and a special collection for some +new-fangled thing." + +And then Grace turned towards the pulpit in time to see the "strange +minister," who had just entered it. He was a tall man, of a stately +though easy presence, with grace and life in every gesture. As she +looked at him Grace Campbell was reminded of an historical scene, a +picture of which hung in the old hall at Kirklands, of a mixed group of +Cavaliers and Puritans. This preacher seemed in his appearance curiously +to combine the varied characteristics of both the types of men in these +portraits. That graceful flexibility of tone and movement, the high +forehead and waving locks, surely belong to the gallant old Cavalier, +but there is something of the stern Puritan too. The resoluteness of +the firm though mobile mouth betokens a strength of moral purpose, which +does not belong to the caste of the mere court gentleman; about those +delicately-cut nostrils there dwells a possibility of quivering +indignation, and in the eyes that are looking broodingly down on the +congregation true pathos and keen humour are strangely blended. + +Presently the deep, flexible voice, which had the soul of music in its +tones, re-echoed through the church as he called the people to worship +God, and read some verses of an old psalm. Familiar as the words were to +Grace, they seemed as he read them to have a new meaning, to be no +longer seven verses with queer, out-of-the-way expressions, that had +cost her trouble to learn as a Sunday evening's task, but a beautiful, +real prayer to a God that was listening, and would hear, as the "strange +minister's" voice pealed out,-- + + "Lord, bless and pity us, + Shine on us with Thy face; + That the earth Thy way, and nations all + May know Thy saving grace." + +And when the sermon came, and the preacher began to talk in thrilling +words of that saving health which the Great Healer of souls had died to +bring to all nations, Grace felt the reality of those unseen, eternal +things of which he spoke as she had never done before. Then there were +interspersed with those faithful, burning words for God beautiful +illustrations from nature, which fascinated the little girl's +imagination, as she sat gazing, not at the gilded cherubs to-night, but +on the benignant, earnest face of the speaker. He surely must have been +a sailor, or he could never have known so well what a storm at sea was +like, she thought, as she listened, spell-bound, feeling as if she was +looking out on the angry sea, with the helpless wrecking ships tossing +upon the waves; but then in another moment he took them into the thick +of some ancient battle, where the brave-hearted "nobly conquering lived +or conquering died;" or it was to some fair, pastoral scene, and then +the preacher seemed to know so well all the delights of heathery hills +and pleasant mossy glades, that Grace thought he certainly must have +been at Kirklands and wandered among its woods and braes. And into each +of his wonderful photographs he wove many holy, stirring thoughts of +God, and of those "ways" of his that may be known upon the earth, of +which they had been singing. + +Presently the preacher began to talk of what the worthy tinsmith had +called the "new-fangled scheme," for which, he said, he stood there to +plead that evening. He had come to ask help for the little outcast city +children. It was before the days when School Boards were born or thought +of that this gallant-hearted man sought to move the feelings and rouse +the consciences of men on behalf of those who seemed to have no helper. +It was for aid to establish schools for those destitute children, where +they might be clothed and fed as well as educated, that he went on to +plead. Grace sat entranced, listening to the preacher, as with the +"flaming swords of living words, he fought for the poor and weak." Never +before in the course of her narrow, sheltered child-life had she, even +in imagination, been brought face to face with the manifold wants and +woes of her poorer brothers and sisters, or understood the service to +which the Son of Man summons all his faithful followers: "Is it not to +deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast +out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and +that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" + +It seemed to Grace, when the preacher had ceased, as if a new world of +loving work and of duty stretched before her; for could she not become +one of that band whom the preacher called in such thrilling words to +enroll themselves in this service of love? + +When the eloquent voice paused, and the congregation began to sing +again, Grace still felt the words sounding like trumpet-notes in her +heart. How she longed to ask the minister to take her to those courts +and alleys, and to tell her in what way she might best help those +neglected ones. How many plans coursed through her eager little brain +for their succour. But the preacher had said he wanted money for their +help; a collection was to be made before they left the church. + +Grace's store of pocket-money was slender, and, moreover, was not in her +pocket now. How gladly would she have emptied her little silken purse, +if she had only had it with her; but, alas! it lay uselessly in her +drawer at home. Her conventional penny had been put into the plate at +the door, as she came into church, and Grace thought ruefully that she +had nothing--nothing to give to help these poor forsaken ones, whose +hard lot had so touched her heart. Just then, however, she happened to +raise her hand to her neck, and was reminded of an ornament which she +always wore, the only precious thing she possessed. It was an +old-fashioned locket, with rows of pearls round it, and in the centre a +baby lock of her own hair, which her mother used to wear. Her Aunt Hume +had some time ago taken it out of the old jewel-case which awaited her +when Grace was old enough to be trusted with its contents, and given it +to her to wear, so it was her very own. But was not this a worthy +occasion for bringing of one's best and most precious things? Might not +this pearl locket help to bring some little outcast waif into paths of +pleasantness and peace? Yes, the locket should be given to the special +collection, Grace resolved; but it might not be wise, to divulge the +intention to Margery, who had already replied, when she was asked by +Grace if she could lend her any money, that nobody would expect a +collection from such a young lady. + +When the crowd moved away from the passage, and began to scatter, +Margery and her charge left the old pew in the highest gallery and +prepared to go down the great staircase which led to the entrance door. +Near the door there stood two elders of the church, with metal plates in +their hands, waiting for the offerings of the congregation. Grace had +been holding hers tightly in her hand, having untied it from her neck +and slipped the ribbon in her pocket, and now she laid it gently among +the silver, and the pennies, and the Scotch bank-notes, hoping that it +might slip unobserved between one of the crumpled notes, and so escape +the detective glance of Margery's quick eyes. But her hope was vain. +Nurse caught sight of the pearls gleaming pure and white among the other +offerings: "Missy, what have you done? Your locket! your mamma's +beautiful pearl locket! Did I ever see the like? It's a mistake, sir. +Miss Campbell could not have meant it," she said, turning to the elder, +with her hand raised to recapture it. + +"Stop, Margery, it is not a mistake; I meant to put it there," replied +Grace in an eager whisper, as she pulled her nurse's shawl, glancing +timidly at the elder, as if she feared he was going to conspire with +Margery, and that, after all, her offering would be rejected. + +"Missy! are you mad? What will your aunt say? Really, sir, will you be +so kind?"--and Margery did not finish her sentence, but looked piteously +at the elder, who was glancing at the little girl with a kindly, though +questioning expression in his eyes, saying presently: + +"You may have your locket back, if you wish it, my child. Perhaps you +have given it hastily, and may regret it afterwards, and we would not +like to have your jewel in these circumstances." + +"Oh, thank you, sir," Margery was beginning to say, in a grateful tone, +when Grace interrupted her. + +"No, please don't, sir, I will not take it back. It was my very own, and +I have given it to God, to use for these poor, sad boys and girls," +Grace added, in a tremulous tone. + +Then the old elder looked at Margery, and said, "My friend, I cannot +help you further. Neither you nor I have anything to do with this gift; +it is between the giver and the Receiver." + +There was something solemn in his tone which kept the still indignant +Margery from saying more, and she prepared to move away with her charge. +But, as she turned to go, she caught a glimpse of her acquaintance the +tinsmith, who was in the act of dropping into the plate a crumpled +Scotch bank-note, which he held in his broad palm. + +"Bless me, they're all going daft together," muttered Margery, with +uplifted hands, as she hurried away. "It was a very good discourse, no +doubt, but to think of folk strippin' themselves like that--a pun'-note, +forsooth, near the half of the week's work; the man's gone clean +demented." + +But the tinsmith's serene, smiling face showed no sign of any aberration +of intellect, and Margery took Grace's hand, and hurried her through the +crowd, resolved that she should not, for another instant, stand by and +countenance such reckless expenditure. + +Grace was conscious that her old nurse was still possessed by a strong +feeling of disapproval regarding her donation, so she rather avoided +conversation; besides, she had a great deal to think about as she walked +along the crowded lamp-lit streets by Margery's side. + +At last they reached the quiet square where Miss Hume lived, and as they +crossed the grass-grown pavement and went up the steps to the house, +Grace glanced up to the curtained window of her aunt's sitting-room, and +suddenly remembered, with a feeling of discomfort, that Miss Hume must +presently be told of the destination of her locket; if not by herself, +certainly by Margery, who had just heaved a heavy sigh, and was +evidently girding herself up for the painful duty of narrating the +strange behaviour of her charge. + +"Now, Margery, I'm going to auntie, to tell her about the locket, this +very minute, so you need not trouble about it," said Grace, as she ran +quickly upstairs to her aunt's room and closed the door. + +Margery never knew exactly what passed, nor how Miss Hume's +well-regulated mind was ever reconciled to such an impulsive act on the +part of her niece. But, as she sat at her usual post by the old lady +next day, while she took her afternoon's rest, Miss Hume said rather +unexpectedly, when Margery concluded she was asleep, "Margery, you +remember my sister? Does it not strike you that Miss Campbell is getting +very like her mother? These children are a great responsibility to me; I +wish their mother had been spared," she added, rather irrelevantly, it +seemed to Margery, and then presently she fell asleep without any +reference to the locket question. + +But that night, when Grace was going to bed, she told her old nurse that +her aunt had promised that when they went back to Kirklands again she +might try to find some little boys and girls to teach, and that she +would allow her to have one of the old rooms for her class. She did not +tell how eagerly she had asked that, in the meantime, she might be +allowed to try and help the neglected city children, to whose +necessities she had been awakened by such thrilling words that day, +though Miss Hume had thought it wise to restrain her impatience. But +out of that evening's events had grown the cherished plan which sent +Grace on such a chilly afternoon among the woods and braes of Kirklands +to seek any boy or girl who might need her help and friendship. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SEARCH + + +Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, left the management of Kirklands entirely in +the hands of her business agent. Mr. Graham met the tenants, gathered +the rents, arranged the leases, and directed the improvements without +even a nominal interference on her part. And certainly he +conscientiously performed these duties with a view to his client's +interests. It may be wondered that Miss Hume did not take a more +personal interest in her tenants, but various things had contributed to +this state of matters. Indeed, she was now so infirm that it would have +been difficult for her to take any active interest in things around her, +especially as it had not been the habit of her earlier years to do so. + +It was her younger sister, Grace's mother, who used to know all the +dwellers in the valley so well that her white pony could calculate the +distance to the pleasant farmyard at which he would get his next +mouthful of crisp corn; or the muirland cottage, with its delicious bit +of turf, where he would presently graze, as he waited for his young +mistress, while she talked to the inmates. But if the little girl with +her white pony could have come back again to Kirklands, they would have +missed many a familiar face, and searched in vain for many a cottage. +The pleasant little thatched dwellings, with velvety tufts of moss +studding the roof, and pretty creepers climbing till they mingled with +the brown thatch, telling of the inmates' loving fingers, were all swept +away now, and in the place that once knew them, stretched trim drills of +turnips, fenced by grim stone walls, to which time had not yet given a +moss-covered beauty. + +Mr. Graham had thought it wise for his client's interests to remove +those little "crofts," and merge their kailyards into productive fields; +so the dwellers in the greensward cottages had to wander townwards to +seek shelter and work in city courts and alleys. The land was now +divided into a few farms, on which stood imposing-looking houses, with +knockers and latch-keys to the doors, where the little girl and the +white pony would never have ventured to ask admittance, or cared to gain +it--where "nobody wanted nothin' from nobody," old Adam, the gardener, +had assured Margery, when she made anxious inquiries concerning the +prospect of Grace's search, and who hoped that this circumstantial +information might persuade her young mistress to abandon it. + +The prophecy that it was "a fule's errand" rang unpleasantly in Grace's +ear, as she crossed the park and climbed the rustic stiles which led to +the high road. It was true she knew that during the last three years +there had been many a "clearance" at Kirklands, for she remembered +having overheard Mr. Graham congratulating her aunt on the larger +returns owing to these improvements. But surely, she thought, there +might still be found some little cottages like those to which she heard +her mamma was so fond of going when she was a girl. Walter and she used +certainly, she remembered, often to see children with bare, dust-stained +feet on the road, when they happened to go beyond the grounds on a +fishing expedition, or down with their aunt through her lands; but her +brother had been an all-sufficient playmate, and Grace's interest in the +peasant children did not extend beyond a glance of curiosity. But now +how gladly would she gather a little company of them to tell them that +old sweet story, which had come to her own heart with such new strange +sweetness, during these winter days, though she had heard it ever since +she could remember. Grace hurried eagerly along the high road, looking +at every turn for traces of any lowly wayside dwellings. There used to +be a little clump of cottages here, she thought, as she stopped at a +bend of the road where there were traces of recent demolitions, and a +great field of green corn was evidently going to reclaim the waste +place, and presently swallow it up. Behind where the vanished cottages +had stood there stretched a glade of birch-trees, with their low twisted +stems rising from little knolls of turf so mossy and steep, that the +drills of turnips and potatoes could not possibly be ranged there +without destroying their symmetry, even though the crooked birch-trees +were to be swept away. + +Grace wandered among the budding trees, and through the soft springy +turf that was growing green again in spite of the bitter spring winds, +but she found no little native lurking among the birches, and was +disappointed to come to the other side of the wood much more quickly +than she expected, without the _détour_ being of any practical use. + +The turf sloped away to a little stream that went singing cheerily over +sparkling pebbles, bubbling and foaming round the base of grey lichened +rocks, that reared their heads above the water, as if in angry +remonstrance at their daring to interfere with its progress. On the +opposite bank there stretched a bit of muirland pasture, studded with +little knolls of heather, growing green, in preparation for its richer +autumn tints. The pale spring sunlight began to grow more mellow in its +light at this afternoon hour; it glinted on the little gurgling stream, +lighted up the feathery birch glade, and lay in golden patches on the +opposite bank, where Grace noticed some cattle begin to gather on the +heathery knolls, as if they had come to enjoy the last hour of bright +sunshine. Perhaps some little cottages may be sheltered behind those +hillocks, Grace thought; and she began to examine how the grey rocks lay +among the water, and whether she could possibly find dry footing across +the stream. Presently she came upon a smooth row of stones, that were +evidently used as a thoroughfare. She had already begun to cross them, +keeping her eye cautiously fixed on the stepping-stones as she went +along, when she was startled by a voice which sounded close beside her. +On glancing round she saw on the opposite bank a boy standing with a +huge twisted cudgel in his hand, brandishing it in a warlike attitude. +He seemed to have suddenly appeared round one of the hillocks, and was +now shouting excitedly, in his rough northern dialect, as he waved his +stick: + +"Hold back, mem; hold back, I tell ye. Blackie is in one o' his ill +moods the day, and he's no safe. Dinna come a foot farther." + +Grace stood bewildered, balancing herself on the stepping-stones; the +apparition was so sudden that it almost took away her breath, and the +commands were so peremptory that she did not dare to disregard them by +going forward; but it seemed very hard to beat an ignominious retreat, +for here seemed to be just what she was in search of--a boy as +neglected-looking as any that were to be seen in the courts and alleys +of Edinburgh; of the very type which old Adam declared there was not one +to be found in all the lands of Kirklands. His head was bare, and his +flaxen hair so bleached by the sun that it looked quite white against +his bronzed face. He looked at Grace with a grave interest in his large +blue eyes, as if he would like to know a little more; but he still +brandished his cudgel before her, and shouted resolutely: + +"Hold back, or Blackie will be at ye." + +"But who is Blackie?" asked Grace, with a gasp, looking furtively round +in the direction of the birch wood, in case the said Blackie might be +approaching from behind. + +"Who's Blackie!" said the boy, repeating the question, as if to hold up +to ridicule the absurd ignorance which it implied. "Do ye no ken that +Blackie is Gowrie's bull--the ill-natertest bull in a' the +country-side?" + +"And what have you to do with Blackie?" asked Grace, glancing across to +the hillocks, where some cattle grazed inoffensively, in search of the +formidable animal. + +"I herd him--I'm Gowrie's herd-laddie. They're all terrible easy-managed +beasts but him, and he's full o' ill tricks. He can't bear woman-folks," +added the boy, with a slight mischievous twinkle in his eye; for he felt +more at his ease now, having assured himself that Blackie was much too +intent on some sweet blades of grass to give any trouble at that moment. + +"Gowrie! that's the old farm down in the hollow there, isn't it? And how +long have you been herding?" asked Grace, who still stood on the +stepping-stones, and pursued the conversation with the noisy little +stream babbling round her. + +"I was hired to Gowrie two year come Marti'mas, and afore that I herded +some sheep on the hill yonder. We had a hut all to oursels. I slept wi' +them a' night, and liked them terrible weel, a hantle better than the +cattle," and his eye wandered regretfully to a bleak mountain slope, +which had evidently pleasant associations for the little herd-boy. + +"Did you ever go to school?" asked Grace, anxious to introduce her +subject, for she thought she would like this boy for a scholar. + +"Ay, did I once, when I was a wee laddie. I was in the 'Third Primer,' +and could read pretty big words," and he fumbled in his jacket-pocket +for the collection of dog-eared leaves which represented his store of +learning. + +"Of course you can't go to school now on week days, when you have to +watch the cows; but perhaps you go to Sunday-school?" Grace asked; and +will it make her desire to do good appear very narrow and small, if it +must be confessed that she hoped to hear that he did not go to any? Her +mind was soon set at rest, however, for he presently replied: + +"The school at the kirk, ye mean? No; granny's dreadful deaf, and we +don't go to the kirk. I belong to Gowrie a' the week, but I'm granny's +on Sabbath; there's aye a deal to do, brakin' sticks and mendin' up +things, ye see." + +"And you really don't go to a Sunday-school?" exclaimed Grace, hardly +able to restrain her satisfaction at this piece of information. "But, +by-the-by, I have never asked your name. I should like to hear it, +because I hope we are going to be friends." + +"They call me Geordie Baxter," he replied, as he ran to check the +wanderings of one of the cows, while Grace stood watching him, as she +pondered how she might best frame an invitation asking him to be her +scholar. He seemed so manly and independent, though he was so young; +and, somehow, it was all so different from how she had planned her +finding of scholars. She had been looking for a cottage where the +tattered children might be crawling about the doorstep, making mudpies +and quarrelling with each other; and then she thought she would knock at +the door, after she had spoken to them for a little, and ask their +mother if she might have them to teach on Sunday. But this boy, ignorant +and neglected as he seemed to be, had certainly a manly dignity which +made Grace's invitations more difficult than she expected; though, after +all, he could only spell words of one syllable, and he went neither to +school nor to church. Surely he was the sort of scholar she had been in +search of. So when he returned to his former position opposite the +stepping-stones, after having admonished the straying cow-- + +"Well, Geordie, I am going to ask you if you will come to Kirklands, +where I live, on Sunday afternoons; and since you do not go to any +school, I can read a little to you, and perhaps help you to learn +something?" said Grace, not venturing to be more explicit on what she +wished to teach. "Do you think you would like to come?" + +"Ay, would I," he replied, eagerly. "I'm terrible anxious to learn to +read the long words without spellin' them." And then he stopped and +looked hesitatingly at Grace. "Would ye take Jean, I wonder?" he said, +coming a few steps on the stones in his eagerness. "She's my sister, and +a good bit littler than me, and she can't read any, but I'm thinkin' she +could learn," he added, in a sanguine tone. + +"Oh yes, certainly; I shall be so happy if you will bring your sister," +replied Grace, looking radiant, for she had; ust been thinking that +though Geordie was certainly a very valuable unit, he could hardly, in +his own person, make the "Sunday class" on which she had set her heart. + +"But I thought ye couldn't bear poor folk at Kirklands," said Geordie, +reflectively, glancing at Grace, after he had pondered over the +invitation. "Granny's aye frightened they will be takin' our housie from +us, as they have done from so many puir folk;" and then the boy stopped +suddenly, and a deep red flush rose under his bronzed cheek as he +remembered that he must be speaking to one of those same "Kirklands +folk." + +"Oh, your grandmother needn't be afraid of that. I am sure my aunt would +not wish to take away her home," replied Grace, hurriedly, also flushing +with vexation, and resolving that she would certainly listen with more +interest, if she happened to be present at the next interview, to Mr. +Graham's narratives concerning the improvements, seeing that they seemed +to involve the improving away of the natives off the face of the +country. + +Just then the sound of a horn came across the heather, and Geordie +started off, saying, "There's Gowrie's horn sounding; I must away and +gather home the kye." And he darted off across the hillocks in search of +his scattered charges, giving a succession of whoops and shrieks as he +brandished his cudgel and whirled about in the discharge of his duty, +quite ignoring Grace, who still stood on the stepping-stones, feeling +rather sorry that the interview had terminated so abruptly, for she +remembered a great many questions she would like to have asked. + +Presently Geordie, by dint of his exertions, managed to arrange the +cattle, with the formidable Blackie in front, in quite an orderly +procession, and he now prepared to move towards the farm, whose white +gables were visible from the pasture. He never looked back at Grace, or +gave any parting sign of recognition of her presence, and she began to +fear that perhaps after all he might forget about her invitation and +fail to appear on Sunday. + +"You won't forget to come to Kirklands on Sunday afternoon, Geordie?" +she called after him, trying to raise her voice above the noisy little +stream. + +"Didna I say that I would come and bring Jean? and I aye keep my +trysts," he shouted back again, with a look of indignant astonishment +that she should have imagined him capable of forgetting or failing to +keep his promise; and then he trudged away cheerily, swinging his stick, +more full of the idea of this "tryst" than Grace could guess, though his +mind dwelt chiefly on the thought of what a grand thing it would be for +little Jean to get a chance of learning to read. He was painfully +conscious that he had signally failed in his attempts to teach her, and +he was the only teacher she had ever had. + +In this little, unkempt, sun-bleached herd-boy there dwelt a very +tender, chivalrous heart, and on his little sister Jean all his wealth, +of affection had as yet been bestowed. Never did faithful knight serve +his lady-love more devotedly than Geordie had this little brown maiden, +since her earliest babyhood. + +They were orphans, and ever since they could remember their home had +been with their grandmother, a frail, dreamy old woman, so deaf that the +most active and varied gesticulation was the only means of conveying to +her the remotest idea of what one wished to say. Geordie, indeed, was +the only person sufficiently careless of his lungs to attempt the medium +of speech, and then his conversation was pitched in the same key as when +he performed his herding functions. + +To the little Jean, Geordie had been playmate and protector in one, her +absolute slave from the time she sat on her old grandmother's knee, and, +tiring of that position, lisped out, "Deordie, Deordie," holding out her +little brown hands so that he might take her, and then they would sit +together on the earthen floor of the cottage, and the gipsy locks would +intermingle with Geordie's flaxen hair, which yielded meekly to as rough +treatment from the little brown fingers as ever hapless terrier of the +nursery was called on to undergo. But Geordie's sun-bleached locks had +always been at her service, and his head and hands too; though it was +not much that the little herd-boy had been able to do for his sister. +Often as he lay on the heather, watching his cows, he smiled with +delight as he thought of the time when he should be promoted into a farm +servant, with wages enough to send Jean to school, and to buy her a +pretty print dress, all dotted with blue stars, like the one Mistress +Gowrie wore. As yet all his earnings had gone to pay board to his +grandmother, and for present necessities in the shape of shoes and +corduroys. He had in one of his pockets a little chamois bag, containing +a few shillings, which he always carried about with him; and it was one +of his recreations to spread them on one of the flat, grey stones and +count the silver pieces as they glittered in the sun. He knew well what +he meant to do with them when the pile grew large enough; but its growth +was a very slow one, and required much self-denial on Geordie's part, +seeing that the component parts of each shilling were generally gathered +in a stray penny now and then, which he earned by holding a market-going +farmer's cob; and if, by a rare chance, a sixpence happened to be the +unexpected result of one such service, then Geordie felt that he was +really getting rich, and would soon be able to buy what he had wished +for so long. It was not anything for himself, or even for Jean, as +might have been expected. Somebody had once told him that if his +grandmother only had an ear-trumpet she would be able to hear people +when they spoke to her. Geordie had the vaguest idea of what such an +instrument might be like, but decided that probably it bore some +resemblance in size or sound to the horn that summoned his cows home; +and having ascertained how much money it would cost, he resolved that he +would buy one for his granny whenever he could save the sum. + +The boy's heart was full of tender pity for the old deaf woman, with her +weird helpless ways, at whose side he had grown since his infancy; +though she could hardly have been said to "bring him up," for Granny +Baxter had been shiftless and unlovable when she was in possession of +her faculties, and her character had not improved under her trying +infirmities. Her grandson, however, always treated her with a tender +patience which no querulousness of the old woman could weary. Not so +little Jean. Only once she could remember her brother looking very grave +and grieved, and it was one day when she had refused to do something +that the old woman wanted, and put her in a white heat of passion by her +rebellion. Having escaped beyond the reach of her poor granny's +tottering feet, and, finding her way to the field where Geordie was +herding, she began to narrate her story in triumph, when her brother's +grave silence made her feel how naughty she had been. After that day +little Jean always tried to "mind" granny more, though she never +attained to the same unwearied service as Geordie. + +That Jean's education was being sadly neglected her brother felt +painfully, and he had made various efforts to teach her the little he +knew himself; but the knowledge contained in the "Third Primer" barely +sufficed for teaching purposes, and Geordie found, moreover, that the +little Jean was by no means an apt scholar. Indeed, the most hopeless +confusion continued to prevail in her small mind concerning the letters +of the alphabet, notwithstanding all his efforts. The natural history +lessons, however, had been a greater success; she had learnt from +Geordie the names of most trees and flowers that grew wild in the +valley, and knew the difference between a wagtail and a wren, which some +people who know their alphabet do not. Geordie sometimes thought that it +might be nice for Jean to go to the kirk, for it was from Jean's point +of view that he looked at most things in life. But then there was the +insuperable difficulty about Sunday clothes, so the idea had always +been given up after due consideration each time it presented itself to +his mind, and the church-going was reserved for that golden period when +Jean would be clothed in the blue-starred print frock, and he should +have a suit of Sunday clothes. Perhaps, with the encouragement of the +ear-trumpet, even frail granny might be conducted to church, Geordie +thought, hopefully, for he knew that she had the essentials of +church-going, as they presented themselves to his mind, stowed away in +an ancient chest-of-drawers where she kept her valuables. + +But in the interval, and while these happy days of good wages and +schooling for Jean and Sunday clothes still lay in the distance, this +invitation to go to the house of Kirklands to be taught on Sunday +afternoon was very delightful indeed, Geordie thought, as he trudged +home with dust-stained feet, carrying his shoes slung across his +shoulders, to pay an evening visit to his granny, eager to tell Jean +about the interview with the young lady and of the invitation. He knew +the news would be welcome to his grandmother also, for it had been one +of her standing grievances ever since he could remember that next rent +day Mr. Graham would be sure to give her notice to quit. And, indeed, if +the truth must be told, it was owing to Geordie's own useful and +reliable qualities that the little household had not long ago been told +to move on, and to make way for more money-making tenants. Farmer Gowrie +was one of the oldest residents on the estate, and he had frequently, as +he used daily to inform Granny Baxter, put in a good word for her with +the agent, and begged him to let the little cottage stand during the old +woman's lifetime; for where could he get a boy like Geordie at the same +money, as he remarked to his wife, so handy, so careful, so fearless of +Blackie, "the ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," who, under +his guidance, was meek as a lamb. + +But notwithstanding Gowrie's assurances that their home was safe, +Geordie knew that his grandmother would be very much pleased to know, if +he could make her understand the fact, that he had, that afternoon, +talked with a lady from the "big hoose" itself. She seemed kind and +"pleasant-spoken," and not at all the terrible ogre that Geordie always +imagined the lady of Kirklands to be. As the rent day came round, and he +went to the inn-parlour where the agent sat to receive the rents, he +used to lay the money on the table and then turn away quickly with a +beating heart, in case granny's oft-repeated prophecy should prove +true, and the dreaded notice to quit should really be coming at last. +But instead of any such terrible communication, after he had stood the +penetrating glance of the bald-headed factor, a kindly nod used +generally to follow, and presently Geordie was galloping home at the top +of his speed to assure his grandmother that there was no word of "a +flittin'" this Martinmas. And now he felt that their home was more +secure than ever, for had not the lady said that she was sure nobody +wanted to turn them out of it? + +Geordie's chief source of delight during his walk home was the thought +of what a pleasant outing the walk to Kirklands would be for Jean, for +there were many things within the lodge gates that she had heard of and +would like to see. Perhaps they might get a glimpse of the walled-in +garden as they passed, which Geordie had heard of from his master, who +was a friend of old Adam the gardener, and had been sometimes invited by +him to take a turn through his domain. But the happiest thought of all +was, that, perhaps, Jean might get more interested in her alphabet when +the young lady taught her. He resolved that he must not forget to take +the "Third Primer" with him, for it was possible that the young lady +might not exactly understand what they needed to be taught; for, after +all, she did not look so very old, he pondered, as he compared her +appearance with Mistress Gowrie's, the one grown specimen of the female +sex, except his grandmother, who made up his small world. + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FIRST SCHOLARS + + +Grace Campbell hurried home with not less eagerness than her future +scholar, to tell the news of her expedition at Kirklands. Her Aunt Hume +was only half awakened from her afternoon nap, and glanced with dropsy +eyes at the glowing face, as she listened to her niece's description of +how and where she had found Geordie. + +"Baxter! I do not remember that name; I must ask Mr. Graham who they +are, and all about them, nest time he comes," said Miss Hume, after +Grace had finished her eager narration, and stood twirling her hat in +her hand, hesitating whether she should tell her aunt Geordie's +impression of what sort of people the "Kirklands folk" were; but just at +that moment tea was brought, and on reflection, Grace resolved that, for +the present, it would be wise to keep silent on that point. Two days +passed quickly, and Sunday afternoon found Grace hovering about the +door of the little room which her aunt had given to her for her class. +She had been seated in state at a table which Margery had placed for +her, at what the old nurse considered a suitable angle of distance from +the form arranged for the scholars; but Grace began to think it felt +rather formidable to be waiting seated there, so she gathered up the +books again, and wandered between the avenue and the little room, +waiting with impatience the arrival of her first scholars, and having a +vague fear lest they might not be forthcoming after all. + +Meanwhile, Geordie and his little sister were toiling along the dusty +highway in an excited, expectant state of mind. The shady elm avenue was +a refreshing change after the hot white turnpike road. Geordie looked +keenly about him, noting all the well-kept walks and shrubberies, among +which he saw many plants that were not natives of the valley, and +thought he should like, sometime, to examine them more closely. + +At last they came in sight of the grey gables of the old mansion, and +little Jean grasped her brother's hand more closely, and looked up with +a frightened glance at the many windows, which seemed to her like so +many great eyes all staring at her. She began to wish that she was +safe back in her granny's cottage again, but consoled herself by +thinking that as long as she had hold of Geordie's hand nothing very +dreadful could possibly happen. Geordie, too, was somewhat overawed by +the nearer view of the "big hoose," which certainly seemed much more +formidable in its dimensions than it did from the moorland, where he +used to get a glimpse of it while he watched the sheep, and then it +looked no larger than the grey cairn which he made his watch-tower, but +now it seemed to frown above him, and the windows, too, began to create +uncomfortable sensations in his mind as well as Jean's. + +With the sight of his friend of the stepping-stones, his flagging +courage returned, for had he not conversed with her on his own domain, +and been invited by her to pay this visit? + +"This is Jean," he said, immediately looking up at Grace with his frank +smile, as he gave his sister a little push forward. + +"I have kept my tryst, ye see. You thought, maybe, I wouldna mind," he +added, smiling again at the absurdity of the idea that he should forget +such an eventful engagement. "I am so very glad to see you, Geordie, +and Jean, too. I must say I was a little afraid that you might forget +to come," added Grace, quite in a flutter of delight over the arrival of +her scholars, which they little dreamt of. Then she happened to glance +at Jean, who stood clutching her brother's corduroys in a very +frightened attitude, and Grace remembered that this was also a new +experience for the scholars, and perhaps they, too, might be suffering +from the nervousness which had been following her from the lawn to the +class-room for the last hour as she waited for them. + +Putting out her hand to Jean, she said, in an encouraging tone, "Come, I +dare say you must be tired after your walk in this hot afternoon. We +shall go to a little room that my aunt has given us to sit in, and see +if we cannot find something nice to read and learn," and Grace led the +way up the old steps and across the hall, then through what appeared to +the children quite a bewildering maze of dark passages, so dim and +sombre after the bright sunshine, that Grace overheard Jean say in an, +abrupt whisper, which was instantly smothered by her brother, "I'm +afraid, Geordie; I'm no gain' farther upon this dark road." + +At last the little company reached the room that had been assigned to +them. It was the old still-room, but it had been long in disuse, and +was scarcely less dim than the passages which led to it. The high narrow +window only admitted a few slanting rays of sunlight, that danced on the +white vaulted roof, which was queerly curved and arched by the windings +of a narrow staircase above. It looked, however, none the less an +imposing chamber to Geordie, who instinctively drew off his cap as he +came in from the sunny glare of the fresh spring day to its +semi-darkness. + +Then Jean, who had decided that the best code of manners was to watch +what Geordie did, and follow implicitly, began to pull the strings of +her little bonnet, to remove it from her head. It had been a present +from Mistress Gowrie on New Year's Day, and this was the first occasion +on which Jean had worn it, though it had often been taken from its +resting-place in a red cotton pocket-handkerchief, and viewed with +complacency. To-day, when it came to be-tied, she had to apply to +Geordie, her unfailing help in all extremities; and he in his efforts to +make an imposing bow like the one which decorated Mistress Gowrie's +ample chin, had knotted the strings after the manner of whipcord, so +that they required all Grace's ingenuity to disentangle them. + +Presently, after all these preliminaries were satisfactorily +accomplished, the young teacher seated herself at the table, and began, +to fumble nervously among the books which she had brought to use. There +was a little story-book that Walter and she used to like long ago, in +which she thought would be nice to read to them, and her mother's Bible, +in which she had been searching all the morning for what might be best +to choose as the first lesson, having selected and rejected a great many +parables and incidents both in the New and Old Testaments, and was even +now doubtful what they should begin to read. + +The sight of the books reminded Geordie of his pocket compendium of +knowledge, and coming to the table he laid the dog-eared "Third Primer" +in Grace's hand, saying, "I've been once through, but I'm thinkin' I've +maybe forgot it some. I doubt Jean doesna know one letter from another, +though I've whiles tried to make her understand," added Geordie, rather +ruefully, as he glanced towards the smiling little maiden, who sat quite +unabashed at this account of her ignorance. + +Grace was rather taken aback by the sight of the spelling-book, and also +by Geordie's statement as to the amount of his knowledge, though it was +the same as he had made at their first interview. Grace, however, in her +eagerness, had not understood its full import, so she gasped out in +some dismay, "But you can read the Bible a little, can you not, +Geordie?" + +"Maybe I might, if I tried," replied Geordie, in a hopeful tone. "They +were just goin' to put me into the Bible when I left the school. I have +heard them reading out some of the stories, and I thought they wouldn't +be that difficult to spell out. Maybe if I read in the primer for a +while, ye'll put me into the Bible," he added, evidently having a strong +idea of the necessity for a good foundation of spelling-book lore before +proceeding to use it. + +But Grace thought ruefully of all her high-flown plans for this Sunday +class, and felt that it was a terrible descent to be restricted to the +"Third Primer." But Geordie seemed convinced that through this dog-eared +volume lay the only royal road to learning. He had already opened the +book at one of the little lessons near the end which he seemed to think +he had not sufficiently mastered in the "schoolin' days" already far +away in the distance to the little herd-boy. He still stood by Grace's +side at the table, and his finger travelled slowly along the page as he +read, in the nasal sing-song tone in which the reading functions were +performed at the parish school, one of those meaningless little +paragraphs that are supposed to be best adapted by the compilers of +primers for teaching the young idea how to shoot. + +Grace sat listening, rather perplexed as to what course it would be best +to pursue. This certainly was not the kind of ideal Sunday-class which +she had in her mind all these months; indeed, this "Third Primer" was +hardly orthodox food for Sunday at all, according to her ideas; and yet +Geordie was laboriously travelling over the page with a dogged +earnestness which she did not know how to divert into any other channel +without doing harm in some shape or other. But presently help came to +her from a quarter where she had least expected it. + +Jean, who had been seated on the form unnoticed for several minutes, +listening to Geordie's earnest but uninteresting sing-song, as he stood +at the table leaning over his lesson-book, got tired of her neglected +situation, and descending from her high seat, she planted her sturdy +little legs on the floor, saying, in a decided tone, as she stumped away +towards the door, "Geordie, I'm tired sittin' here. I'm away home." +Jean's words fell like a thunderbolt both on Geordie and Grace. The +blood mounted to the boy's face, and his earnest blue eyes turned +anxiously towards the young teacher, to see what she was thinking of +such an utter breach of good manners on Jean's part. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST LESSON.] + +Poor Grace felt bitterly conscious of sudden and terrible failure in +this work which she had so longed to undertake. She had not been able to +interest one scholar for a quarter of an hour, and the other seemed only +to have his heart set on learning to spell. "But it is not quite time to +go home yet, Jean," she faltered, as she watched the little girl's +efforts to open the door, since Geordie did not seem inclined to come +to her assistance. "Indeed, we haven't really begun yet," continued +Grace. "Come, Jean, would you not like to stay a little longer and hear +a story from the Bible before you go? Geordie used to like them at +school, he says;" and then, turning to the boy, who stood looking in +grave reproving silence at Jean, she said, "Besides, Geordie, I think, +perhaps, I did not quite explain to you the other day what I thought we +should try to learn on Sunday afternoons when you come here. I shall be +very glad to help you with spelling, too, you know, but I thought I +should like to tell you something about the Lord Jesus Christ our +Saviour, and to read some of his wonderful words which we find in the +New Testament. You have heard of him, have you not, Geordie?" + +"Oh, ay, I'm thinkin' I have. But it was in the Auld Testament they were +readin' when I was at the school. I mind there was a right fine story +about a herd-laddie killin' a big giant, that one o' the laddies telt me +once. You've heard it many a time from me, Jean." + +"Ah, yes, I know that story too," Grace replied, brightening, as if a +glimmer of light had come to her in her perplexity. "And if you will +listen, I can tell you another story--about a Shepherd, too. I'm sure +you would like it, if you would only come back for a little and listen, +Jean," said Grace, eagerly. + +She did not venture to open the Bible, in case the little girl should +think the book would imply another course of spelling, and be roused +into immediate flight. Abandoning all her carefully arranged plans for +teaching which she had been thinking of for so long, she looked into +Geordie's eyes, which were still wandering hungrily towards the +unconquered pages of the primer, and began to tell of the Shepherd who +watched the hundred sheep in a wilderness far away in a very hot +country, where the burning sun dried up the streams and withered the +pasture, and where it was very difficult to find food for either man or +beast. And then she told of how very wise and tender this Shepherd was +with his flock, looking after their wants day and night, and taking very +special care of the silly, play-loving lambs, who did not guess what +terrible dangers they might fall into; for there were wild beasts +prowling about, ready to pounce upon them, and rushing torrents that +came suddenly from the hillsides in rainy seasons, which would have +drowned them in a minute, if the Shepherd's watchful eye had not been +there. He knew all their names, too, though sheep are so wonderfully +like each other." + +"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie. "He must have more wit than Gowrie's +shepherd, then. He has been wi' them for more than a year now, and I +dinna think he knows the one from the other so well as I do." + +Little Jean seemed to have abandoned her design of immediately returning +home, and was gradually edging nearer the table, with her twinkling +black eyes fixed on Grace. + +"But I was going to tell you what happened to one of the little lambs in +spite of the Shepherd's watchful care," Grace continued, feeling +inspirited by the growing interest of her audience. + +"Eh, but I hope none o' the wild beasts ye spoke o' got hold of it," +said Geordie, drawing a long breath. + +"Well, there's no saying what might have happened, but for the Good +Shepherd. For the little lamb got lost--lost among bleak, sandy hills, +where it could find no green blade to eat, and got very hungry and +footsore. It could hear no kind shepherd's voice that it used to love to +listen to in happier days, but only terrible sounds like the bark of +wolves, coming nearer, and lions prowling about when it began to get +dark." + +"Puir lambie!" murmured Jean, whose face now rested on her little fat +hands, while, leaning on the table, she looked up in Grace's face; "it +must surely ha'e been very frightened," she added, in a compassionate +tone; for she knew that she did not like to cross the turf in front of +the cottage, after dark, without Geordie's protecting hand. + +"Yes, it surely must have been frightened enough, for it was certainly +in great danger, and the Shepherd knew what a terrible plight it must be +in, wandering about tired and hungry, far away from the fold. For what +do you think he did?" Grace continued, looking at Geordie; "he actually +left all the other sheep--the ninety-nine, you know--in the wilderness, +and went away to seek for this poor little silly lost lamb." + +"Did he though! He must have been a real fine man," responded Geordie, +warmly. "There's Gowrie's shepherd lost a wee lambie among the hills not +lang syne, and when Gowrie asked him, when he came home, why he didna +look about among the heather for it, he said he couldn't leave the rest, +and that it was a puir sick beastie no' worth much trouble. But it was a +nice wee thing for a' that, and it must have died all alone there, with +nobody to give it a drop of water," said Geordie, regretfully, for he +had a tender heart for all dumb creatures. "I must tell Gowrie's lad +about this Shepaerd the very next time he comes round the hill. But did +he find the lambie?" he asked, turning to Grace. + +"Yes, he found it. He looked for it 'till he found it,' the story says. +After wandering along a road full of danger and painfulness, and +sorrowful sights of the terrible ruin the wild beasts had wrought, he +came upon the little strange lamb, just when its heart was beginning to +faint and fail. The story does not say that he punished it for running +away and giving him so much trouble, or even that he spoke some chiding +words and pushed it along in front of him with his crook, as I have +sometimes seen shepherds on the road do when the sheep get footsore and +weary and unwilling to go on with the journey." + +"Ay do they. They get their licks many a time when they don't deserve +them," chimed in Geordie, in a pathetic tone. + +"Well, but instead of any hard words or beatings, what do you think the +Shepherd did? He took the little lamb into his own weary arms, and it +lay safe and warm there, while he carried it all the way home to the +fold." + +"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie, in warmest admiration. "Eh, but the +lambie must surely have been right fond of the Shepherd after that. I'm +thinkin' he would know his voice better than before, and follow him +right close and canny. That's the kind o' shepherd all beasts would +like, for they know fine when a body cares for them," Geordie said, with +a glowing face, as he looked up at Grace, and the "Third Primer" slipped +unheeded on the floor. + +Was it a mere chance coincidence that this remark of Geordie's came at a +moment when it made more easy of introduction to Grace that part of the +parable story which she was full of eagerness to tell to her first +scholars? She desired that it might prove to them not merely a pleasant +tale, which had beguiled an hour that had threatened to be a very weary +one, to little Jean, at least; but that, through its homely dress, they +might catch a glimpse of its higher meaning, and be able to trace the +footsteps of the Great Shepherd of souls. + +"Yes, Geordie," she continued, "one would certainly imagine that the +sheep would follow such a shepherd very closely, and be very sure that +his way was always best, and that he was leading them by wise safe +paths, even when they seemed thorny and toilsome; but it is not so. I +can tell you of a Shepherd who not only went through many painful dark +desolate places, so that his flock might not stumble and fall when they +came to follow, but ended by laying down his life for his sheep. And yet +these very sheep do not always listen to his voice, nor follow the safe +narrow paths which he has tracked out for them, through the wilderness, +to the happy fold. I think you must both have heard of this Shepherd, +Geordie, and little Jean too." + +"I never knew a shepherd except Gowrie's, and he lost the bonnie lambie +with the black face, that used to lick Geordie's hand," replied little +Jean, with a doleful expression in her usually merry black eyes. + +"Ah, but this Good Shepherd always searches for the lost sheep till he +finds it, and then he carries it in his arms all the journey through to +his beautiful home among the angels, and there is joy among them over +the little found lamb. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ who calls himself +the Good Shepherd, Jean, and who has told us this story about finding +the lost sheep, that we might understand the better how he came to this +world to save us from dark dangerous paths of sin that go down to death. +For we have all strayed as this poor silly lamb did, and some of us are +straying yet," continued Grace; and then, glancing at Geordie's earnest +face, she said, "You have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to +save us from our sins, have you not, Geordie?" + +"I have heard tell o' him. But I didna just think he was so real-like as +a shepherd with his sheep, or that he would have ta'en that trouble for +_one_," Geordie replied, with a dreamy look in his eyes; but he did not +say more. + +Just then Margery knocked at the door, and intimated that the hour was +expired, and little Jean again began to show some signs of restlessness, +so Grace felt regretfully that the first afternoon had come to an end, +and she had not followed any part of the programme which she had +previously marked out. There was the hymn-book, with a tune all ready +to sing to one of the hymns, which Grace had practised painstakingly on +the piano the day before. But now she found that neither Jean nor +Geordie could sing, so she thought it might be wise to select something +simpler than she had chosen before, and ended by singing her oldest +childish favourite, "The Happy Land." It was evidently new to the +children; for their poor old deaf granny's was not a musical home. +Geordie's eyes dilated with delight as he listened, and he kept giving +Jean a series of nods across the table, in case she should by any chance +miss the full enjoyment of such beautiful sounds. + +A second knock from Margery, this time carrying a plateful of +currant-cake which Miss Hume had sent to the children, fairly broke up +the little gathering. Grace felt with disappointment that this first +class had come sadly short of her ideal, was a complete failure, in +fact, when she remembered all that she had meant to say and do, and all +the hoped-for responses on the part of the scholars. + +In thinking of this afternoon long afterwards, when it lay in the clear +rounded distance of the past, Grace used to smile as she remembered her +restless impatience, and compare herself to the little girl who was +always pulling up by the roots the flowers she had planted in her +garden, to see how they were getting on. + +When they prepared to leave the little still room, Grace handed Geordie +his precious "Third Primer," which she found lying on the floor, and as +he put it into his jacket pocket, he said with a smile, "I won't bring +it back with me, I'm thinkin'. Ye'll maybe tell us some more about the +Good Shepherd next time, and I can hold at the spellin' when I'm +herdin', and maybe I'll soon be able to get into the Bible itself," he +added, still firm in his belief that the only entrance lay through the +spelling-book. + +Grace, remembering little Jean's dislike to the exit through the dark +passages, led the way to a door which opened into a path to the garden. +Jean manifested undisguised satisfaction when the dim still-room +precincts were fairly left behind, and they got into the pleasant old +walled-in garden, where the yellow afternoon's sun was lying on the +opening fruit-blossom, and bringing delicious scents out of the +newly-blown lilac and hawthorn. She kept pulling Geordie's corduroys, to +draw his attention to all that captivated her as they walked along the +broad gravel walk. This was certainly a much pleasanter way home than +along the dim passage, and Jean decided that the best part of the +afternoon had come last. Presently Grace opened the door of one of the +greenhouses, and they stood among richer colours and sweeter scents than +before. The children had been surveying with admiring wonder the +dazzling house glittering in the sun, which was making each pane sparkle +like a diamond, but they never dreamt that it would be given to them to +enter it, or indeed that it had an interior which could be reached, so +entirely did it seem to belong to the region of the sun, not to the +world of thatched cottages and grey walls. + +"Eh, but surely this will be something like the happy land you were +singin' aboot," Geordie said at last, with a long-drawn breath, after he +had wandered about in silence for some time, revelling in the exotic +delights of the first greenhouse he had ever seen. + +"Oh yes, Geordie; there will be all this, and a great deal more; things +so beautiful and, glorious that our poor minds can't even imagine what +they will be like," said Grace, glowingly, feeling a thrill of pleasure +to hear that the hymn had any meaning for the boy, so desponding was she +concerning her efforts. "Look here, I'll just read to you about the +pleasant place where the Good Shepherd leads his flock, after their +journey on earth is over." And leaning against an old orange-tree, +Grace read to her little scholars about that wonderful multitude "which +came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made +them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the +throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that +sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, +neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any +heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, +and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe +away all tears from their eyes." They stood quite still for a few +moments after Grace had finished reading, each thinking some new +thoughts. + +In the mind of little Jean, to be sure, there certainly prevailed some +confusion of ideas between the happy land of which she had been hearing, +and the beautiful garden in which she stood. Indeed, to the end of her +life, the yellow glitter of the sun on the Kirklands greenhouses brought +to her mind the description of that "city of pure gold, as it were +transparent glass;" and the tall tropical plants which were ranged round +the shining floor were to her the embodiments of the trees whose leaves +were for the "healing of the nations." + +But Geordie's thoughts were most about that Shepherd Saviour who seemed +to be able to lead his flock away from bleak, scorching places to such a +blessed land as these words told of. + +In spite of old Adam's approaching shadow on the gravel walk, Grace +plucked a few of the rare, beautiful roses and gave them to little Jean, +whose small fat hands were eagerly stretched out to receive the prize. +They spent the remainder of their flourishing existence in a broken +yellow jug on the window-sill of Granny Baxter's cottage, and were a joy +to Jean for many days. And when it was the fate of their companions +still left in their stately glass home to be gathered into Adam's barrow +when their charms had past, and ignominiously flung away, Jean's roses +had a more honourable future. After they had done their duty faithfully +on the window-sill, the dead leaves were tenderly gathered and scattered +in the drawers allotted to Jean in the ancient chest, where they made a +sweet scent in their embalmment for many a day. + +The little party arrived at last at the farther end of the garden, where +there was a door in the high, red wall opening on a path which led to +the turnpike-road. Grace turned the rusty key, and the children saw the +familiar face of their native valley again. Giving a lingering backward +glance into the pleasant garden which they had just left, they trotted +away towards the dusty high-road, while Grace stood watching them till +they were out of sight. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ELSIE GRAY + + +"I'll tell you what it is, Grace; that scholar of yours is far too fine +a fellow to be left to tie companionship of old Gowrie's cattle any +longer." + +The speaker was a bright, breezy-looking lad in midshipman's dress, who +was sauntering up and down the old terrace at Kirklands, in company with +our friend Grace. She is a year older than when we saw her last at the +garden-gate, parting with her two scholars after their first Sunday +together. They have had a great many afternoons in company since then. +Grace had remained in her summer home all through the long Scotch +winter, and now autumn had come, bringing with it her brother Walter on +a delightful holiday of six weeks, after an absence of years. + +Miss Hume had got so frail the previous year, that she was unfit for the +return journey to her house in Edinburgh, and the following months had +only brought an increase of weakness. She now lay in her darkened room, +with, her flickering lamp of life burning slowly to its socket, while +some young lives beside her were being kindled by glowing fires which +would cause their hearts to burn long after the "glow of early thought +declines in feeling's dull decay." + +The little company in the still-room had somewhat increased, four others +haying been added to the two first scholars. One of them was Elsie Gray, +the forester's daughter, a pretty little girl with a sweet voice, and +able to sing a great many hymns, so that Grace had no longer to perform +solos to the still-room audience, but was accompanied by more than one +voice timidly following Elsie's example, and joining in the singing. +There were three other scholars from the borders of the next parish, and +a very happy party they all made together. But it must be confessed that +the warmest place in Grace's heart was reserved for the first scholar +whom she had found that chilly spring day among the pasture lands which +sloped down to the little stream. Judged by an educational standard, +Geordie was certainly, with the exception of the little Jean, the most +deficient of the company, in spite of his having manfully conquered the +last pages of the "Third Primer," and got at last "intil the Bible." +The other boys and girls still attended the parish school on week days, +and seemed more or less very fairly in possession of the rudiments of +education. Some things, however, which they read and heard in the little +quiet room at Kirklands sank into their hearts as they had never done +when they read them as the stereotyped portion of the Bible-reading +lesson amid the mingled jangle of slates and pencils and pattering feet, +with the hum of rough northern tongues, which prevailed in the parish +school-room. + +To Geordie even this discordant medium of education had been denied. +Grace had set her heart on having him sent to school during the past +winter. She saw what a precious boon such an opportunity appeared in +Geordie's eyes when she suggested it to him. But Farmer Gowrie had to be +consulted, and finding the herd-boy useful in winter as well as during +the summer months, he decided that he could not possibly spare Geordie. +And as for Granny Baxter, she could not understand what anybody could +want with more learning who was, able to earn money. So Geordie had one +day lingered behind the other scholars to tell Grace that the idea of +going to school even during the winter quarter must be given up. There +was always a manly reticence about the boy which made one feel that +words of sympathy would be patronising; but Grace could see what a +bitter disappointment it was, though he appeared quite unalterable in +his decision that he "belonged to Gowrie," when Grace tried to arrange +the matter by an interview with the farmer. He could only claim the boy +week by week, and the young teacher did not see the necessity for such +self-denial on Geordie's part. + +Then Grace's store of pocket-money had been devoted to sending little +Jean to school. This arrangement had been a source of great delight to +Geordie--much more of an event to him, indeed, than to the phlegmatic +little Jean, to whom the primer did not contain such precious +possibilities as it did to her brother's eyes. Grace had arranged that +she should go to a girls' school lately opened in the parish. It was the +one to which Elsie Gray, the forester's daughter, went. On her way to +school she had to pass Granny Baxter's cottage, and after Jean was +installed as her fellow-scholar, Elsie used generally to call and see if +the little girl was ready to start, so that they might walk along the +road together. + +Elsie was a pale, fragile-looking girl, who looked as if she had grown +among crowded streets, rather than blossomed in the open valley, with +its flowing river and breezy hillsides. She was a very silent child, +too, with a meek grace about all her movements; her large grey eyes +shone out of her face with a luminous, dreamy light in them, which +distressed her practical, rosy-faced mother, who used to say that she +did not know where Elsie had come by "those ghaist-like eyes o' hers," +and as for those washed-out cheeks, "there was no accountin' for them +neither;" and the worthy matron would go on to narrate with what +abundance and amplitude Elsie had been ministered to all her life; and +yet Elsie glided about still and pale, with her large eyes shining like +precious stones, generally hungrily possessed by some book which she +held in her hand. She had an insatiable appetite for reading, and had +long ago exhausted the juvenile library attached to the church, while +the few books which comprised the forester's collection had been read +and re-read by her many times. The farmer librarian, who remained half +an hour after the congregation was dismissed on Sundays to dispense +books for any that might wish them, in the room behind the church, had +been obliged to give Elsie entrance to the shelves reserved for older +people, after she had exhausted the youthful library. It is not to be +supposed, however, that by this admission Elsie was allowed to plunge +chartless into light literature. The shelves contained only books of the +most sober kind, the lightest admixture being narratives of the +persecutions of the Waldenses and stories of the Covenanting struggles. +These Elsie read and pondered with intense interest, interweaving the +scenes in her imagination with the familiar places and people round her, +and living a far-away dreamy life of her own in the forester's cozy +little nest, while her active-minded, busy-fingered mother made her +cheese and butter, and reared her poultry, and was withal so very +capable of performing her own duties, that the forester sometimes +ventured to think, when Mrs. Gray complained of Elsie's "handlessness," +that seeing the mistress was so well able for "her own turn," it was +fortunate his little daughter chanced to be of a more contemplative +disposition. + +Mrs. Gray had heard from Margery of the Sunday class which her young +mistress had opened at Kirklands, and though, as the forester's wife +remarked, "Elsie had enough and to spare of schoolin' already," yet it +would only be a suitable mark of respect to the lady of Kirklands to +send her there on Sunday afternoons; and so it happened that Elsie +became one of Grace's scholars, sitting in the little still-room on +Sunday afternoons, her large tender eyes answering in sympathetic +flashes as the young teacher talked with the little company of those +wonderful days when the Son o Man lived upon the earth, or told them +some story of the earlier times of the world, when God's voice was heard +in the beautiful garden in the cool of the day, or when he guided his +chosen people by signs and wonders. + +In those days, however, the gospel tidings were not more to Elsie than +many another pathetic story which she knew, and served simply as food +for her imagination, though Grace's earnest words did throw a halo round +the familiar incidents which the daily reading of a chapter in the New +Testament had failed to do. Yet it was not till some of the sharp +sorrows of life had fallen upon Elsie that those words which she heard +in the still-room came with living power to her heart, and became to her +a light in dark days, a joy in sorrowful times, which nothing was able +to take away from her. + +And this was the little girl who used to knock gently at the door of +Granny Baxter's cottage every morning as she passed along the road to +school, arrayed in her pretty grey stuff frock, and with her snowy linen +tippet and sun-bonnet. Sometimes she found little Jean's round smiling +face peering against the peat-stack at the end of the cottage awaiting +her coming, for a great friendship had sprung up between these two, +though they were certainly very different in character. Elsie seemed to +have a brooding protective care over the little unkempt Jean, exercising +a sort of guardianship of her in the new life at school. She would often +come to her rescue when Jean sat pouting over a blurred slate, en which +she was helplessly trying to reproduce the figures on the blackboard, or +give her timely aid amid the involvements of some question in the +Shorter Catechism. It was Elsie who tied the bonnet-strings now, with +more dexterous fingers than Geordie's, and performed many similar kindly +offices besides; and little Jean was already learning from the +forester's daughter many habits of tidiness which her poor, failing +grandmother had not been capable of teaching her. + +Sometimes, on their way from school, the girls would find Geordie +perched on the paling of one of Gowrie's fields, while the cattle grazed +within the fences, watching for their coming to enliven a lonely hour +with their talk and news of school doings. His eye used to glisten with +pride and pleasure as he watched the little Jean appear, carrying her +books and slate, and already bearing many traces of civilising +influences. And it is not to be wondered at if his eye rested with +admiration sometimes on the sweet maiden, who was generally her +companion, and that he learnt to watch eagerly for the first glimpse of +the snowy sun-bonnet along the winding green lane which led from the +girls' school to the high road. Sometimes Elsie used to bring one of her +favourite books in her plaited-cord school-bag, and then the trio would +sit in a shady corner, where Geordie's vigilant eye could still keep +watch over his charge, while the little girl introduced her friends to +some of the favourite scenes of her ideal world. Elsie seemed to +understand, though she had never been told it in so many words, all +about Geordie's intense desire for knowledge, and to appreciate his +self-denial in remaining in his present post. And so it happened there +grew up in her mind a tender sympathy for all that he had missed, side +by side with an admiring belief in his character. + +How many thoughts and ideas he surely must have, she used to think, +after one of those meetings, when she took her solitary way home, after +parting with Jean, and remembered Geordie's remarks, which seemed to +throw new light on her favourite histories, and to touch with insight +all that was most beautiful and true in them. Often Elsie used to +delight the unvocal brother and sister by singing one of her hymns, +which for days afterwards would echo in some "odd corner" of the lonely +little herd-boy's brain. Sometimes, too, they discussed what they had +been hearing on the previous Sunday at Kirklands; and Elsie always felt +more interested in the lesson after hearing Geordie's gentle, reverent +talk. And to Elsie, who had neither brother nor sister, there was an +infinite charm in Geordie's devotion to his sister Jean, and his +unwearied anxiety for her happiness. She noticed, too, the tender, +chivalrous care with which he ministered to his old grandmother, never +wearying of her selfish, querulous ways, and sacrificing himself to her +smallest wishes. + +So it happened that a warm friendship sprang up between those three who +sat side by side in Grace Campbell's little school-room; and their daily +lives had become pleasantly interwoven during these past months. To +Jean, Elsie appeared the embodiment of all that was worthy of imitation, +from her snowy sun-bonnet to her gentle voice, both seeming equally +unattainable to the little girl. When Geordie returned to the village on +Saturday night, he used generally to hear from Jean some glowing +narrative in Elsie's praise, to which Geordie's ears were quite wide +open, though he sat bending over his books in the "ingle neuk" of the +cottage kitchen. + +When her idea of a winter at school had to be abandoned, Grace gave him +a few helpful class-books, and tried to direct his efforts to learn as +much as was possible; but, during the past year, her aunt's increasing +weakness and dependence on her companionship made it impossible for +Grace to give the boy such practical help as she would fain have done. +But Geordie had been fighting his own battle manfully, and had made more +progress than Grace guessed. + +Walter had first been telling her as they walked on the terrace +together, that the day before he had found Geordie busy with a geography +book as he tended his cattle, and how pleased he had been to hear about +the new lands Walter had seen. Like Elsie, Walter felt that, in +Geordie's mind, things seemed to gather a richness and an interest with +which his own impressions had not clothed them. + +"You've no idea how many queer questions the fellow asked me about +everything," continued Walter. "Indeed, Grace, I couldn't help thinking +how much more good Geordie would have got out of all the things and +places I've seen since I went away, than I have. And yet he's much too +clever for a sailor's life. What can we do with him, Grace? I really +can't bear to think of his drudging on as a farm servant to old Gowrie, +though he seems quite contented with the prospect," and Walter turned to +Grace, who glanced at her brother's kindly face with pleasure, though +not unmixed with surprise, that he should take such an interest in her +Sunday-scholar. + +Walter seemed to look on Grace's class rather in a humorous light when +he first heard of its existence on his return to Kirklands. And +presently he had begun to grudge that she should devote herself to it, +and thus deprive him of the pleasure of her society during the long +Sunday afternoons, when they used to be together in the old days. And, +in the midst of all her joy in having her brother with her again, Grace +had been feeling with sadness that there was as yet no response in +Walter's heart to those unseen, eternal things, which, in her efforts to +share them with the little company on Sunday, had become increasingly +vivid to her own mind. He used occasionally to rally her on her new +fancies, which he seemed to think quite harmless and suitable for a +girl, provided they did not cross his plans and fancies. + +One day, when he was on his way to fish, he had happened to meet +Geordie, who was herding his cattle near the stepping-stones. Geordie +was a clever angler, and could wile more trout out of the river than +most people, and Walter had been delighted with his information as to +the fishing capabilities of the Kirklands river. Since that day they had +always been friends when they chanced to meet. Walter could never see +the sun-bleached locks gleaming in the distance without crossing +whatever gate or field happened to lie between, and going to have a talk +with him; so the boys had seen much more of each other than Grace knew. +She had often been obliged to leave "Walter to solitary rambles, owing +to her aunt's, increasing dependence on her during her long illness, so +it happened that she felt some surprise when she saw Walter more moved +than was his wont as he eagerly discussed plans for helping Geordie. + +"I'll tell you what it is, Gracie," said Walter, in his blunt way, as +his quick eye detected Grace's slight surprise that he should have so +warmly espoused the cause of her Sunday-scholar. "You know I have seen +Geordie a good deal lately. We have had a lot of fishing talk, and all +that, and I like the chap--he's a first-rate fellow. I can't bear to +see a fellow so much better than myself trudging away behind those +beasts of Gowrie's day after day. And, besides, Grace, the fact is I owe +him something more than anything I may be able to do for him can ever +repay. It isn't every fellow, I can tell you, who would have had the +courage to say to me what he did," stammered Walter. + +"What did he say, Walter?" asked Grace, more astonished than ever. "I +thought you hardly knew more of Geordie Baxter than his name. You know +he is my favourite scholar. But it is a long time since I have had a +quiet talk with him. I well remember the first conversation we had, +standing on the stepping-stones near that bend of the river where the +birches grow." + +"Ah, yes, I know the place. It's curious, it was just about that very +spot I was going to tell you. I met him there, one day, not long ago, +and he happened to say that he had been asking Gowrie to stop sending +the cattle to that bit of pasture, because the stepping-stones made it a +thoroughfare, and that bull had been getting more savage lately, and he +could not always persuade people that it was dangerous to pass near him; +but Gowrie had said it was nonsense, and so forth. Well, you see, I'm +not very fond of old Gowrie, and when I saw how meekly Geordie submitted +to him, I felt provoked, and began to speak a little strongly, as we +middies sometimes do--swore, in fact. And if Geordie didn't make me feel +more ashamed of myself than ever I did in my life. You've tried your +hand on me before now, Gracie, and I'm sure you'll be glad to +hear--well, that I'm going to try to lead a very different life now." +Walter's voice faltered, and Grace looked at him with glistening eyes. + +After a few moments' silence, she said, "But Walter, dear, you haven't +told me yet what Geordie said." + +"Well, Grace, I hardly think I should like to tell you all he said. But +he came, and laying his hand on my shoulder, looked at me with those +earnest eyes of his. 'You've been very kind to me, Maister Campbell,' he +began, 'and it would be ill-done no to min' ye that ye are giving a sore +heart to your best Friend ye have by takin' his dear name in vain,' and +then he said a little more about it. I was so taken aback, Grace, I +could hardly believe my own ears. It must have required a lot of +downright courage to speak like that; there isn't a mid in all our crew +who would have ventured to do so. And yet I dare say I'm in for +something of the same kind when I go back again to the ship. For you +know I must be a 'good soldier,' Grace," added Walter, with a gentle, +fearless look in his eyes that carried Grace's thoughts back to an early +scene, when she stood in the crowded street in her nurse's hand, and +watched her father's face as he rode alongside his men to his last +battle. And as she looked at Walter's face, she remembered some old +words which say, "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that +taketh a city;" and she lifted up her heart, and gave God thanks that +this young spirit, so dear and precious to her, had taken him for his +Leader and Lord. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HOW GEORDIE'S HERDING DAYS CAME TO AN END. + + +It was a lovely autumn evening. The valley of Kirklands lay flooded in +the sunset glow. Its yellowing fields were tinged with warm-crimson and +purple, and the golden light shimmered on the trees and fringed the dark +fir tops. Never had her home looked more beautiful, Grace thought, when, +at last, the brother and sister turned to go indoors, after their +earnest talk. She stood leaning on the old carved railing of the steps, +taking one more glance at the peaceful scene before she followed Walter +into the darkening entrance-hall, when her eye caught sight of a stumpy +figure which she thought she recognised. + +It was little Jean Baxter, who hurried along the elm avenue as fast as +her short legs could carry her. She looked breathless and excited, and +when she came nearer Grace saw that she was tearful and dishevelled. She +hastened down the steps to meet her, wondering what childish grief +could be agitating the mind of the usually imperturbable little Jean. +When she caught eight of Grace, she threw up her arms with a loud, +bitter wail that rang among the old elms, echoing through their arching +branches, and startling the birds that had just gone to roost. "Oh, Miss +Cam'ell! Geordie, Geordie!--he's hurt; he's dyin'; Blackie's gotten hold +o' him." + +It was vain to ask anything more. Jean could only repeat her wailing +refrain, so taking the child's hand, Grace quietly asked her to lead the +way to where Geordie was, trying to quiet her bitter weeping by such +soothing words as she could muster in the midst of her own distress at +the possibility of any serious accident having happened to her favourite +scholar. But poor little Jean's sad monotone still rang mournfully +through the soft evening air as she trotted along by Grace's +side--"Geordie's dyin'; Blackie's got hold o' him." + +Grace, however, managed to learn from a few incoherent words that the +boy was lying, in whatever state he might be, at the river side, near +the stepping-stones. He had, that afternoon, taken the cattle, along +with the dangerous bull, to the heathery knolls, where Gowrie's careful +soul grudged that any morsel of pasture should remain unused. Geordie +had always been most careful in warning unwary passers-by of their +danger, for, though fearless enough himself, he still held that Blackie +was the "ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," and never felt +easy in his mind except when he had him within the fences of the upland +fields. He had once or twice tried to tether the animal near one of the +hillocks, but he saw that it made his temper more dangerous than ever; +besides, the little patches of green pasture were so scattered through +the heather, and had carefully to be scented out by discriminating +noses, that to have fettered poor Blackie to one spot seemed to him a +crying injustice, uneasy as he felt at his being able to roam at large +so near a thoroughfare. Geordie had never even allowed himself the +luxury of Jean's company when there were no fences to put between +Blackie and her. + +But that day the harvest holidays had been given at the girls' school. +There had been prizes distributed and an examination held which lasted +till evening. Elsie Gray had got several trophies of her diligence, but +the great and unexpected event of the day was that little Jean had +actually got a prize. She was nearly beside herself with ecstasy as she +clutched the gay crimson and gilt volume which was presented to her, +and resented that it should even for a moment be absent from her arms to +be admired by her companions. Then Geordie must hear about this +unexpected honour, must see and touch the treasure at once; and Jean +galloped off with the precious volume to the field where he was +generally to be found perched on the paling, awaiting their coming. +Elsie Gray followed, eager enough, too, to show her honours to the +boy-friend, whose golden opinions she dearly loved to win. There was a +pink flush on her usually pale cheek, as she glanced about in search of +Geordie when they reached the field, panting and breathless after their +race. But no Geordie was visible anywhere, and the field was quite empty +and tenantless. Then Jean remembered, what she had forgotten in her +excitement, that Geordie was to be herding at the hillocks to-day, and +so she started off to find him, forgetful that his present post was +forbidden ground. + +The girls were not long in reaching the stepping-stones, and presently +Jean was at Geordie's side, dancing round him with wild cries of +delight, as she flourished her gay prize in his rather bewildered eyes. +He had been lying with his face resting on his hands, on one of the soft +knolls of turf, looking at the sunset, and thinking of the new lands of +which he had lately been hearing from Walter Campbell. He seemed so +possessed by his own thoughts and reveries that he heard no sound of +coming footsteps till he looked up suddenly, and saw little Jean by his +side. He jumped up from the turf, and began to look wistfully towards +the river side to see if there was nobody else besides Jean coming to +enliven a lonely hour. + +Elsie had crossed the stepping-stones, and was moving towards the +hillock on which he stood, with her sun-bonnet in one hand, and her +heavy armful of shining prize books in the other with the golden sun's +rays falling on her. Her dusky hair was hanging rather more loosely than +usual, shaken out of its general smoothness by her hot face. The pale +face was all aglow with pleasure, and her large eyes looked radiant with +delight at the thoughts of the pleasure that little Jean's success, as +well as her own, would give to Geordie. The boy stood with his flaxen +hair all gilded by the sun, looking at her with a glad light in his blue +eyes. For a moment only, and then, with a look of terror, he glanced in +the opposite direction, remembering that this was dangerous ground. +Blackie had been roused from his sleepy grazing by little Jean's cry of +delight, and, looking up, his evil eye caught sight of Elsie, with her +bright colours, made more dazzling by the sunset tints. With a toss of +his head, and a few wild plunges, the brute, with his head near to the +ground, and his eyes fixed on his prey, made his way towards her. +Geordie shouted, "Back, Elsie; back on the stepping-stones!" but it was +too late. + +Elsie lost her presence of mind, and wavered backward and forward for a +moment, till it was impossible to save herself by taking refuge on the +other side of the stream, where Blackie, not knowing the advantage of +stepping-stones, would probably not have troubled himself to follow her. +In an instant Geordie had flung himself between the roused animal and +Elsie. His stick still lay on the hillock, where he had been resting, so +he had no weapon of defence, and Blackie, in his rage, would not spare +the faithful lad, who had spent so many lonely hours by his side. In +another moment, Geordie was lying gored and senseless on the heather. + +Elsie had reached the stepping-stones, and stood there transfixed like a +marble statue. Blackie might follow her now if he had a mind to, but he +had not. After a glance at Geordie, he plunged away with his heels in +the air through the heather, having an uneasy consciousness that he had +lost his temper, and treated a good friend rather roughly. + +As for little Jean, she had fortunately happened to be beyond Blackie's +range of observation; for it was on Elsie that his sole gaze had been +fixed, and he only vented his baulked fury on Geordie when the vision of +bright colours slipped away. Gowrie's ploughman happened to be passing +near, and had been a witness of the scene, though it was impossible for +him to give timely help. Elsie Gray, he noticed, was now safe on the +stepping-stones, and Geordie lying on the heather, with all the mischief +done to him that Blackie was likely to do. But the enraged animal might +attack somebody else presently, and the man thought the best service he +could render was to secure Blackie against doing further injury. Never +did repentant criminal receive handcuffs with more submission than the +guilt-stricken Blackie the badge of punishment. There was a subdued +pathetic look of almost human remorse and woe in the eye of the brute, +as he was led past the place where Geordie lay low among the heather. +The hands that had so often fed him and made a clean soft bed for him at +night, often stroking his great knotted neck, and never raised in unjust +punishment, lying helpless and shattered now, and the fair locks hung +across his face, all dabbled with blood. Elsie was now kneeling by his +side, but he was quite unconscious of her presence, and heedless of her +low wailing, as she looked wildly round to see if nobody was coming to +help Geordie, who had helped her so bravely. Little Jean had hurried +shrieking to the farm, with the news of the accident, and Mistress +Gowrie presently appeared, to Elsie's intense relief. She was a kindly +woman, and felt conscience-stricken as she kneeled beside the little +herd-boy; for she knew that it was not with his will that Blackie roamed +at large among those knolls. She had happened to hear his last +expostulation with her husband on the point; and this was how it had +ended. But she did not think he was dead. Elsie could hardly restrain a +cry of delight when she heard the whispered word that he lived still. +How joyfully she carried water in her sun-bonnet from the flowing river, +how tenderly she sprinkled it on his face and hands, and wiped the +bloodstained locks. + +And then old Farmer Gowrie came and stood with his hands behind his +back, and a shadow on his furrowed face, as he gazed on his young +servant with an uneasy stare. He kept restlessly moving backwards and +forwards to see whether the still motionless figure showed any sign of +life, till his wife reminded him that Granny Baxter was probably +ignorant of the terrible accident which had happened to her grandson, +and asked him to go and break the news to her. Little Jean had been +there before him, however; and Gowrie found the old woman crawling +helplessly along in the direction of the knolls, quite stupefied by the +terrible tidings that Jean had managed to convey to her deaf ears. The +little girl seemed possessed with the idea that Miss Campbell would be +sure to be able to help Geordie in this extremity; and so she left her +old granny to find her way alone, and had hurried away in the direction +of Kirklands to tell her sorrowful tale, meeting Grace, as we know, in +the elm avenue, after her eventful talk with her brother. + +They were already half-way to the stepping-stones, when Grace +remembered--feeling it unaccountable that, even in her anxiety, she +should have forgotten for an instant--that Walter must know what had +happened to Geordie--Geordie, to whom he owed so much. She felt that she +could not leave the little weeping girl to go on her way alone; but just +as she was standing hesitating what it might be best to do, she met one +of the dwellers in the valley, who promised to go at once and convey a +message to her brother, and then she and Jean hurried on towards the +fatal pasture lands. Before they crossed the stepping-stones which led +to the knolls, Grace could see a little group bending over a spot in the +heather; but no sound reached them through the calm evening air, except +the rippling of the sunset-tinted river, which rolled between. And so +Geordie was lying there gored, maimed, perhaps dying, as Jean persisted +in saying. Grace felt her heart sink with fear, lest the sorrowful +refrain should be true, as she crept silently near to the place where +the little company was gathered. But Geordie was not dead. + +"Here comes Miss Campbell," somebody said, and then the circle opened +up, and Grace caught a glimpse of her scholar lying very quietly among +the heather with his blue eye turned gladly to welcome his friend. + +"It was only a faint, after all,--and some bruises that will soon heal," +Mistress Gowrie said, in a tone of relieved anxiety, as she rose from +the turf where she had been kneeling to make way for Grace, who felt an +intense relief as she bent smilingly over him, and talked gently of the +danger past, with her heart full of thankfulness. + +When little Jean saw the happy aspect of matters, her grief gave place +to the wildest ecstasy of delight. Throwing herself down beside her +brother, she shouted gleefully, "Oh, Geordie, Geordie, ye're no dyin' +after all, ye're all right. I'll never greet again all the days o' my +life," was the rash promise which she made in her joy, remembering +Geordie's dislike to tears. Presently her thoughts reverted to her +treasure, which, in her grief, had been forgotten. It had been dropped +on the knoll when the accident happened, and Jean now bounded off +gleefully in search of it. + +A doctor had been sent for soon after the accident, but Geordie seemed +so well that old Gowrie already began to regret that they had been in +such haste in sending to fetch him. Presently Mistress Gowrie left the +knolls and returned to her usual evening duties, which she felt were put +sadly in arrear owing to this outbreak of Blackie's, and feeling truly +thankful that it had ended so fortunately. She invited old Granny Baxter +to have a cup of tea with her at the farm, which was a very great mark +of graciousness on the part of "the mistress," and extremely gratifying +to the old woman, to whom attentions of the kind came rarely. + +It had been arranged, also, by the farmer's wife that Geordie should be +moved into the "best bedroom" before the doctor came, and Granny +Baxter was filled with pride when she was shown the woodruff-scented +chamber, with its dark shining floor, and among other impressive +decorations from the farmyard, a waving canopy of peacock feathers above +the ancient chimney-piece, where Geordie was to sleep among snowy sheets +that night. But each time that they proposed he should be carried there +from his rough bed among the heather, Geordie pled rather wistfully, +"Just wait a wee while. I'm right comfortable here among the heather," +and once he added with a sad smile as he glanced at the farmer's wife, +"But I'll no be able to supper the beasts the night, Mistress Gowrie. +Maybe Sandy will look to them. Puir Blackie! give him a good supper; he +didn't mean any ill." + +Only Elsie Gray, of all the original group, still sat near Geordie, +where she could watch every movement, though she could not be seen by +him. She kept gazing at him with unutterable anguish in her eyes, and +only she detected the sharp spasms that occasionally crossed his face, +and felt his frame quiver with pain which he tried to conceal. + +"Miss Campbell," she whispered to Grace who was seated near her, "he's +very sore hurt, I'm sure of it. Oh, will the doctor no come soon!" and +when Grace looked into Geordie's face she began to share Elsie's fears. + +Presently Jean came bounding back in delight with her recovered treasure +to lay it in Geordie's hands. He looked at the gaily-bound book with his +most pleased smile, and then glancing at Jean proudly, he said, "Eh, +Jean, but ye'll be learnin' to be a grand scholar. I'm right glad ye +have got to the school." + +Then the eager little girl must needs have the book in her own hands +again, to search among the leaves for the illustrations which were +interspersed, so that Geordie might be introduced to all the beauties of +this wonderful volume. Geordie kept looking at her as she turned the +leaves with a somewhat pitiful gaze, and presently he said in a low +tone, "Jean, come a little nearer. I want to speak to ye, Jeanie. Do ye +ken I'm maybe goin' til the grand school the good Maister keeps waitin' +for us in the heavenly land? And I'll be learnin' a deal o' things there +that we canna learn down here," he added, with a smile; and then he +paused. + +Jean looked up from her boot with bewildered eyes as she listened to +Geordie's words; a grave expression came into her face, but the shadow +was only caused by her not understanding what he meant, for she knew +that Geordie occasionally went beyond her depth. + +"I'll no ever herd Gowrie's cows again, Jean, or wait at the fences for +Elsie and you. I'm dyin' Jeanie," he added in a hoarse whisper, as he +gazed sorrowfully at the little girl. + +There was no mistaking the meaning of these words, and little Jean, +dropping her precious book, burst into loud sobbing, as she flung +herself on Geordie. + +Grace had been watching the boy with a sinking heart, and a great fear +began to take possession of her that what he said might be true, as a +terrible spasm of agony crossed his face, and a groan of pain escaped +him. She looked anxiously to see if there was any sign of the doctor +coming, and taking little Jean aside, she told her that if she loved +Geordie she must be brave and quiet, even though he was so very ill, as +he seemed to think. Then she tried to speak some soothing words of +comfort, but little Jean wailed out with a fresh burst of sorrow: + +"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, why didn't God keep him from Blackie, if he loves him +as ye say? Ye mind how ye read to us in the Bible about him saving the +herd-laddie out o' the jaws o' the bear; oh, but, I think, he might +have taken care of our Geordie;" and poor little Jean would not be +comforted. + +"Where's granny?" Geordie had whispered, and Elsie rose from her post at +Geordie's head and flitted away like a little noiseless ghost to find +the old woman. She met her at the farm, where, having finished her cup +of tea, she was being shown some of Mistress Gowrie's feathered +favourites in the farmyard. + +"Mistress Gowrie, he's not better, as ye think; he says he's dyin', and +wants to see granny," Elsie said, with quivering lips, as she reached +them. + +"Dying, child, nonsense! what do you mean?" said the farmer's wife, +looking at Elsie to see if she was not dreaming. But Elsie looked +terribly wide-awake and sorrow-stricken, and Mistress Gowrie went off in +search of her husband. + +Then Granny Baxter began to perceive that there was something wrong, and +presently Elsie succeeded in making her understand, and began to guide +her slow steps to where her grandson still lay. Oh, how slow they were, +Elsie thought, as she glanced along the straight field path still to be +crossed before they reached the knolls, and thought of what might be +going on there. But had not Geordie wanted to see his grandmother, and +surely she might endure for him who had done so much for her? So the +little girl kept close by the old woman's side, who leant her wrinkled +hand on Elsie's shoulder, while, with the help of her staff in the +other, she hobbled along, with her eyes fixed upon the ground, groaning +and muttering about this terrible blow that seemed likely to fall upon +her. + +"Granny, granny, I've been wearyin' for you," said Geordie, holding out +both his hands, when at last Elsie's patience had guided the old woman +to the spot. "Oh, but I'm no able to make her hear. Nae words o' mine +can travel to her ear, and I had much to say to her," Geordie cried, +with a suppressed sob, as some terrible internal pain seemed to seize +him. + +The old woman had seated herself by his side, and her withered fingers +wandered trembling among his hair, as she moaned helplessly, "Oh, +laddie, laddie, what's this that's come upon us?" + +Suddenly, Geordie seemed to remember something, and, smiling brightly, +he feebly raised his hand to his jacket-pocket, and drew out the little +chamois bag, containing the slowly-gathered store of money with which he +intended to buy the ear-trumpet for his poor deaf granny. + +"I gathered the last sixpence yestreen, for holding the minister's +horse," he said, as he laid the bag in her hand, "It's to buy a thing +that makes deaf folk hear, granny. But she can't understand me, Miss +Cam'ell," he murmured, sadly, as he looked at Grace, who was leaning +over him; "and, oh, I would have liked well to tell her before I go away +about the Good Shepherd that you first told me about, Miss Cam'ell. I +dinna think she understands right what a Friend he can be to a body; and +I've always been waitin' till I got that horn for makin her hear to tell +her all about him, for it's no a thing that a body wad just like to roar +at the tap o' their voice. But you'll maybe speak to her some of the +things ye spak' to us, Miss Cam'ell. Ye'll have one less at the school +now, ye see," he added, smiling sadly; and then turning with a look of +tender pity on his grandmother, who watched him with wistful eyes, as if +she knew that his lips were moving for her, he said, "Oh, tell her to +listen to his voice, and let the sound into her heart. He was aye able +to mak' deaf folk hear, wasn't he, Miss Cam'ell?" said Geordie, with a +bright smile as he turned to his young teacher. + + +They had now got ready a sort of litter, on which they meant to carry +him to the farm; for Mistress Gowrie felt convinced that only more +comfortable surroundings and a visit from the doctor was necessary for +his complete recovery, and was resolved that no care of nursing on her +part should be wanting to atone for any past indifference to the welfare +of the little herd-boy with which she might reproach herself. + +Geordie, seeing her anxiety to perform this deed of kindness, at last +consented that they should take him from his lowly heather couch, and +carry him to all the comforts of the best bedroom at Gowrie. But each +time they tried to lift him the boy got so deathly pale, and seemed to +suffer so intensely, that even Mistress Gowrie was obliged to +acknowledge that it might be best to wait till the doctor came. Indeed, +it soon became evident to all that Blackie's blows had touched some +vital part, and Geordie's herding days were done. + +He lay for a little while with closed eyes, seeming thankful to be +undisturbed, and a silence fell on the group round him, not broken when +Walter Campbell joined it; for a glance from Grace, and a look at +Geordie's face, told him all. He stood there, in the freshness and +strength of his youth, looking at the ebbing life of the boy whom he +felt then as if he would have died to save. How he longed to tell him +of all the blessing his words had brought to his soul, of the life-long +gratitude which must surround his memory; but it was too late. Walter +felt that he could not disturb the passing soul with anything so +personal; but in the land where Geordie was going they would meet one +day; and he would keep his thanks till then. + +The silence had not been broken for several minutes. Poor little Jean +had been trying to keep very brave and quiet, since Grace explained to +her how much her noisy grief would vex Geordie. But Elsie, who had +returned to her post at Geordie's head, and was seated silently there, +now gave a smothered sob, which seemed to fall on Geordie's ear. He +opened his blue eyes, and looking wistfully about, said in a faint +whisper, "Elsie, I didna know ye was here. I saw you on the +stepping-stones just when I was meetin' Blackie, but I thought you had +been away home before now; it surely must be far on in the gloamin'. Eh, +Elsie, but I'll no be able to keep the tryst for the bramble gatherin' +wi' you," he said, in a mournful tone, turning towards her, and +referring to a long-planned holiday, when they were to go together to +search for brambles for Mistress Gowrie and the forester's wife's joint +jam making. "But, Elsie, speak to me," he continued, feebly, holding +out his hand, for he could not see her face where she sat, "We'll keep +our tryst in the bonnie land beside the green pastures and the still +waters ye often read to me about. Will we no', Elsie?" + +"Oh, Geordie, I can't bear it. Why did you no let Blackie get hold o' +me? Oh, Geordie, Geordie!" Elsie sobbed, as she crept round within sight +of the boy, and knelt beside him with clasped hands and lines of agony +on her face, that made the fair child look like a suffering woman. + +Geordie turned his dying eyes upon her with a look of mingled love and +sorrow, which none who saw it could ever forget; and stretching out both +his hands, he said, "Oh, Elsie, will ye no give me one kiss afore I +dee?" + +And Elsie lifted up her fair face, which had been covered with her +hands, and bending down, kissed the dying lips. Then, with a look of +unutterable gladness and contentment, Geordie closed his eyes as if he +was going to sleep. + +Walter Campbell turned away for a moment, for, as he afterwards told one +of his shipmates, "It was more than a fellow could stand, and he didn't +mind confessing that he hadn't stood it." Presently he hurriedly joined +the little group again, determined that Geordie must yet hear before he +went away how his faithful words had, through God's grace burnt +themselves into a wayward heart, and set a dead soul on fire. But he +found that another Voice was falling on Geordie's ear, which was closed +to all earthly sounds now; even that greeting to faithful ones which +bids them enter into the joy of their Lord. + +And so the poor bruised body did lie in Mistress Gowrie's +woodruff-scented best bedroom, and among her snowy linen, that night +after all, but Geordie was not there; his home was henceforth in the +many mansions of the Father's house. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +AN OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW NAME + + +"Now, children, here we are at Kirklands, at last," said a lady with a +pleasant voice, to an eager-looking group of boys and girls, who were +clustering round her, in a large open travelling carriage, which had +just drawn up in front of an old gateway, and waited for admittance. + +"Kirklands at last," was re-echoed among the little party. The two boys +seated beside the coachman glanced round at the occupants of the inside +seats, feeling sure that, their higher position secured them superior +information, and shouted in chorus, "Mamma, mamma, Kirklands at last." + +"As if we didn't know that as well as you do," shouted back Willie, a +curly-headed little fellow, seated beside his mother, who had a secret +hankering after the higher place of his elder brothers, along with a +desire to prove to them that their position was in no way superior to +his own. + +The old gates closed behind them, and the carriage bowled swiftly along +the smooth avenue, with its branching elms overhead. The pleasant vistas +of green, on all sides, were very grateful to the eyes of the young +travellers, wearied with miles of a white dusty turnpike-road, on a hot +July afternoon. They looked with delighted gaze on the new fair scene, +and thought what happy evenings they would have among those green glades +during the long summer days. + +But there was one of the party to whom this scene was not new, but old +and familiar, written over with many memories, some well-nigh overlaid +in the turmoil of life, but which flickered up with new vividness as she +looked on the calm sunlighted scene, and thought of other days. The +years had brought many changes to her, and it was with mingled feelings +that she gazed on this unchanged spot. Each grey-lichened rock stood out +from the mossy floor with a face that was familiar; all the little +winding woodland paths, she knew where they led to, and could take the +children to many a nook where wild flowers and delicate green ferns +still loved to grow, at they did long ago when she used to gather them +in these woods. + +"Seventeen years ago! is it possible?" she murmured, as she leaned back +in a corner of the carriage, and thought of the many leaves in the book +of her life which had been folded-down since she took farewell of these +green glades in her girlish days. And as she sits, quietly thinking, +while the little group round her are making the green aisles resound +with their merry laughter, we fancy, as we glance at her face, that it +is one we have seen before in this valley. The "stealthy day by day" has +certainly done its work; the outline of Grace's cheek is sharper than it +used to be, and the eager, speaking eyes have lost somewhat of their +fire, but there is a calm gladness in their gaze as she glances at the +joyous faces round her, that speaks of lessons learnt, and sorrows past, +during chequered days which have lain between the autumn evening, when +we saw her last, and this July afternoon, when she is coming with her +"two bands" to the home of her girlhood. + +Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, had passed away from this world during that +autumn seventeen years ago, and Grace had never revisited Kirklands +since. Walter, to whom it belonged, was still a naval officer. His home +on the sea had still more fascination for him than the inland beauties +of Kirklands, which had been left to strangers during the intervening +years. + +For some time past it had stood empty and tenantless, and Walter had +suggested that his sister, who had just come from a long sojourn abroad, +should, with her children, take up her abode there. Her husband, Colonel +Foster, was still on foreign service; and Grace, who longed to see the +old home after all her wanderings, had readily agreed to go with her +little flock and introduce them to the spot which was their dreamland of +romance, the historic ground of all the pleasantest stories in their +mother's mental library, often ransacked for their benefit. + +Mrs. Foster's servants were already at Kirklands, making preparations +for the arrival. The old rooms were being opened up once again, and +shafts of golden sunlight streamed through the long-darkened windows, on +the dark-panelled walls, as if to herald joyously the good news that +"life and thought" were coming back to the deserted house. + +As the carriage followed the windings of the avenue, the grey gables of +the old mansion began to peep through the green boughs, their first +appearance being announced by a jubilant chorus from the elder boys on +the box, which made little Willie feel painfully that his range of +vision was far from satisfactory. Presently, however, the timeworn walls +could be seen by all the party, as the carriage wheeled round the old +terrace, and the travellers reached the end of their journey. Then eager +feet began to trot up and down the grass-grown steps, and climb on the +old carved railing, where the griffins fascinated little Grace by their +stony stare, as they used to do her mother years ago. The long-silent +corridors began to resound with joyous laughter, as the merry party +rambled through the old rooms, wishing to identify each place with +historical recollections, founded on their mother's and Uncle Walter's +stories. And was that really the tree that Uncle Walter made believe to +be the rigging of a ship, and one day fell from one of its highest +boughs? And where used they to keep their rabbits, and in what room did +they learn their lessons? These, and such questions, were generally +asked in chorus, to which their mother had to endeavour to reply, as she +wandered among the familiar rooms with her merry boys and girls. + +"Mamma, do you know what I should like to see best of all? Two things, +mamma," whispered little Grace, as she caught hold of her mother's +dress. + +"And what would my little girl like to see--the toys mamma used to play +with when she was a little girl like Gracie? I believe I've carried the +key of the chest where they lie buried about with me all these years;" +and Mrs. Foster began to look in the little basket she held in her hand +for a shining bunch of keys. + +"It wasn't the toys I meant, though I should like to see them very +much," replied the little girl, who was more timid and gentle than her +brothers and sisters, and generally required more encouragement to +unburden her small mind, "it is the room where you taught Geordie that I +want to see--and Geordie's grave among the heather." + +Some quick ears had caught a name that seemed to be a household word, +and louder voices said, as the boy's clustered round their mother, "Oh +yes, mamma, do show us where you taught Geordie and little Jean." + +So Grace led the way through the dim passages that had once frightened +little Jean, and whose gloom now made the small Grace cling close to her +mother's side. The still-room was dark and unopened, for the servants +had not thought it necessary to include it in their preparations. Grace +went to the window and undid the fastenings, and the yellow afternoon +sun streamed on the dusty wooden bench where Geordie, and Jean, and +Elsie used to sit. + +The merry voices were hushed for a moment, and the children looked in +awed silence into the little room, as if it had been a shrine. + +After they had gazed long and silently, and their mother went to fasten +the window again, she said, "Children, we will come here and read God's +Word on Sunday afternoons, as the little company you know about used to +do long ago; and I hope you will all listen to the Good Shepherd's +voice, and follow it as Geordie did;" and presently the children trooped +quietly away along the dark vaulted passages. + +There was no faithful Margery now to be trusted with everything, and +able to put things straight in the twinkling of an eye, as her young +mistress used to declare she alone was capable of doing, so Mrs. Foster +had some unpacking and arranging preliminaries to superintend before she +could join her eager little party out of doors. But when tea was over, +and the sun had begun to scatter its orange and crimson tints over the +Kirklands valley, Grace thought she would like to take a stroll among +some familiar places before the darkness came. + +After lingering on the old terrace for a little, she gathered her boys +and girls round her, and said she was going to take them across the +park. She wanted to visit a place she remembered well, a pleasant angle +of a rising glade of birches, where she once stood mourning over the +traces of an uprooted cottage. But Grace knew that another home had +grown on the ruins of the former dwelling, and to it she bent her steps +now, for there was one of its inmates whom she longed to see. There was +something of the mingled feeling of interest and romance with which her +children wore viewing these now yet familiar scenes, in Grace's desire +to look on a face she had not seen for many years. Its image would rise +before her, chubby, smiling, and childlike, as of old; and then she +remembered the evening when she had first seen it tear-stained and sad, +as she crossed this path with the little fat hand in hers, as her own +Grace's was now. + +But Joan had not shed many tears since then. There was no happier home +in all the valley than the white cottage, over which the birch-trees +lovingly stretched their delicate fringes, her husband, the village +carrier, used to think when he came within sight of it, after his day's +journey was over, his parcels all delivered, and his horses "suppered" +for the night. Generally his bright-looking wife was hovering near the +door, waiting his coming with a little group round her as merry as the +one that was now making the woods of Kirklands ring with their +light-hearted laughter. + +Grace had not told the children that she meant to take them to see +little Jean that evening. She wanted first to go alone to the cottage +and see her quietly there, for she had many things to hear and ask. +Still, Grace had not been altogether a stranger to the home life there. +Sometimes a letter, written and addressed with laborious carefulness, +had followed her to remote foreign stations, and brought pleasant +memories of dewy heather and fragrant birches as she read it among +waving oleanders and palms. During all those years Grace had watched +over Jean's welfare, and many things in her pretty home told of her +thoughtful remembrance of Geordie's sister. + +[Illustration: Old Scenes Revisited.] + +The arrival of the family at Kirklands had taken place a few days +earlier than was intended, so Jean had not happened to hear the news, +and was all unconscious of the pleasure in store for her. How often she +had longed to see the "young leddy of Kirklands," as she still called +her, how many times she said to her husband that she would be sure to +know her anywhere, though it was so many years since she had looked +into her face. But now, as Jean sat matron-like with her sewing, in +front of her cottage, while her children played near, she wondered what +"strange lady" could be coming along the path. She called her straying +little ones to her, in case they should be in the way, but she noticed +that the stranger did not seem to think so, for she had just stopped +kindly to stroke one little flaxen head, and Jean, with a mother's +pride, felt grateful that "her bairn should be respeckit among the +rest." But when the lady, still holding the little boy's hand, began to +climb the mossy bank, and came towards her, Jean thought she had surely +seen that face before. Though not till Grace had smiled, and said, +holding out her hand, "Jean, is it possible you do not know me?" did she +recognise her old teacher. + +"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, Miss Cam'ell!" she said, with a cry of delight as she +dropped her mending and rose to meet her. "Is it really yourself? I +canna believe my verra eyes." + +And when Grace gazed questioningly into the serene, beaming face of the +little matron, she saw it had kept all that was best of its childish +lineaments, and felt with thankful gladness that Geordie's Shepherd had +not forgotten little Jean. Meanwhile the little loitering party came +along the road, and seeing their mother engaged in conversation beside +the pretty cottage door, they were eager to know who of all the old +friends she was talking to. Willie was the first to clamber up the mossy +bank and reach the cottage. The others were following, when he joined +them with an expression of mingled interest and disappointment on his +face. + +"I say Walter--Grace,--can you guess who mamma is speaking to? Well, +it's Geordie's sister,--little Jean." + +Then they all crept shyly near their mother while she talked at the +cottage door, glancing with interest at the inmate. But when little +Grace could find an opportunity she whispered in a tone of +disappointment, "Oh, mamma, is it really true what Willie says?" and +then she added with a sigh, when Willie's news had been confirmed, "Oh, +I'm so sorry; I do wish she could have stayed a little girl." + +Her mother smiled at the childish idea; but she presently remembered +that it was as the little herd-boy Geordie's image still lived in her +memory, though nearly twenty summers had come and gone since he entered +on that life in which earthly days and years are merged into eternity, +where the old and feeble renew their strength, and the young grow wiser +than the wisest hero. + +Grace's boys and girls had all to be introduced by name to the smiling +little matron, whose eye rested on them more or less appreciatively, as +she recognised a likeness to their mother or their Uncle Walter. + +Presently Grace turned to the little group, and said softly, "Children, +would you like to come to the knolls of heather on the other side of the +hill? I am going there now." + +"Oh yes, mamma, I want to go," chimed an eager though subdued chorus of +voices; and then the childish feet followed the two mothers as they +wandered slowly through the birch trees and crossed the path which led +to the stepping-stones. The water still splashed and gurgled noisily +round them, and the knolls of heather stretched with unchanged contour +on the other side. Beyond rose the white gables and thatched roof of the +old farm of Gowrie; but the former master and mistress were gone now; +and the young farmer, who had taken the lease, chafed considerably that +he had not been able to include the bit of heathery pasture lands in the +fields, seeing it had been previously secured by another tenant. It was +the only piece of land owned by Grace in the valley, and through all +these years of absence she had jealously guarded any encroachment upon +her territory. Old Gowrie had, at her earnest request, relinquished his +right to that portion of his domain in her favour, for he ceased to +wish to make it one of his economies to have his cattle grazing there. + +So it happened that though the pastoral valley had considerably changed +its face, and had much of its ruggedness smoothed away in the course of +years, this stretch of heather remained unreclaimed. It was still a +thoroughfare, but a very safe one now, for its only dwelling was a +grave. + +On the day after Geordie's death Grace had gone to see the last +resting-place destined for him in the little village churchyard. It was +a dreary patch of ground which looked as if the suns ray's never +penetrated through its high walls on the graves below. Crumbling +grey-lichened headstones peeped dismally from among the long dank grass, +and the little paths were overgrown with weeds. Everywhere there were +traces of unloving carelessness of the dead. And though Grace knew full +well that the silent sleepers below little heeded this selfish +forgetfulness, these surroundings sent a chill to her heart. She thought +she should like all that was left here of her boy-friend to lie in +pleasanter places. Far better he should rest underneath the heathery +sod among the pleasant breezy knolls, consecrated by many a heavenward +thought of the lonely little herd-boy, and by faithful words spoken in +an accepted time to a wayward brother's heart. So Grace made her suit to +the old farmer at a time when his heart was softened, and he was not +unwilling to part with a spot written over with a stinging memory. Miss +Hume, without even consulting Mr. Graham, had agreed to the transfer of +the land; and so it happened that Grace, like the patriarch long ago, a +stranger and sojourner in the land, held as a possession a +burying-place. + +The bright summer day had reached its dying hour when the little group +stood on the bank of the river. The yellow sunlight was merging into +deep orange and crimson, tinging with a wonderful variety of tints the +lower landscape. The rippling water looked as if a sudden cross current +of red wine had come flowing into it, and the little hillocks beyond, +golden with gorse, were steeped in the mellow light. + +The children followed their mother and Jean, with awed faces and hushed +voices, along the little gleaming sheep-walk, fringed by sweet wild +thyme and dog violets, with tendrils of deerhorn moss flinging their +arms across the path. At length they came on a little marble slab, by +the side of one of the knolls. The last golden shafts of sunlight were +stealing over its memorial words, and the young eyes read in silence:-- + + IN MEMORY OF + + GEORDIE BAXTER, + + Who went to the Fold above on the + 7th of August, 185--. + + "The Lord is my Shepherd; + I shall not want." + + +Presently, the silent group heard footsteps behind, and when Grace +glanced round she saw a woman, with two little boys by her side, coming +along the little path towards the headstone. She stopped suddenly when +she saw the strangers, evidently surprised by the unusual presence of +visitors in that unfrequented spot, and, turning down another path, went +away in the opposite direction. "Who is that, Jean?" asked Mrs. Foster; +"surely I have seen the face before." + +"Dear heart, do ye not know her? It's Elsie Gray. We dinna think, John +and me, that her bonnie face is much changed; but then we see it every +day," Jean replied, looking fondly after the retreating figure. + +"Ah, is it really Elsie? I was just going to ask about her, Jean. But +who are those children with her? I thought you told me in one of your +letters that she lived quite alone?" asked Grace, stooping down to pluck +a bluebell from Geordie's grave, instead of hurrying after this old +friend, as the little Grace expected her mother to do. + +Then the little matron went on to narrate how Elsie's home was still the +forester's pretty cottage, though her father and mother were both dead. +She had never been married, which Jean remarked was a great pity, and +hinted that a good many other people were of her opinion. But how the +parish of Kirklands could ever have got on without her if she had gone +away, or what life would be if she had not Elsie to go to in every joy +and sorrow, Jean could not imagine, as she said she frequently remarked +to "her John." Nobody's hands seemed to be fuller of helpful work, and +nobody did it more cheerily, than Elsie Gray. + +Then Jean explained that the two little boys were orphans whom she had +taken to her comfortable home; and "it wasn't the first pair o' laddies +she had made good for something," Jean added, admiringly. + +"Oh, mamma, don't you want to speak to her? She has such a nice, +beautiful face. Do let me run after her, and ask her to stop for a +minute," said little Grace, eagerly. + +Mrs. Foster glanced musingly across the knolls at Elsie's slender +figure, as she sauntered peacefully home with her charge, and then she +said, "No, my dear, we shall not trouble Elsie to-night; but I shall +take you with me to see her in her own home to-morrow, if you wish it. I +shall be going there." + +The cold, grey light was beginning to steal over the woods of Kirklands, +and the rosy tints that still hovered about the knolls would soon give +place to the gloom of night, so Grace gathered her little party, and +turned her steps towards the river. + +The merry voices, hushed for a time, began again to resound through the +still evening air, and the children went hurrying on with Jean, who had +told them she must be going home to see after the milking of her cows, +and cordially responded to their wish to join her at the process. + +So Grace had been following slowly, and when she crossed the +stepping-stones, she looked lingeringly back, for, with the sound of the +rippling water had come the remembered echoes of Geordie's voice as she +heard it first. Then she called to mind the chilly spring day when she +had started on the search, pronounced so hopeless by old Adam the +gardener, and how gleefully she hailed the unexpected appearance of the +little herd-boy. She smiled as she remembered the childish eagerness +that made her fear that he would not appear at Kirklands, as he had +promised, and his rather reproachful reply that he "Aye keepit his +trysts." And then there rose mingled memories of those trysts, which be +had so faithfully kept in the little still-room, of her own childish +incapacity for the work she had so longed to do, and of the sense of +failure that hung over it so long. + +And as she turned to follow her merry boys, who were clambering up the +mossy bank, where the silvery bark of the old birch-trees were still +streaked with rosy sunset hues, she felt how much she had learnt from +the tender, earnest heart of Geordie. + + "And comforted, she praised the grace + Which him had led to be, + An early seeker of that Face + Which he should early see." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Geordie's Tryst, by Mrs. Milne Rae + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORDIE'S TRYST *** + +***** This file should be named 12765-8.txt or 12765-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/6/12765/ + +Produced by Miranda van de Heijning and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. diff --git a/old/12765-8.zip b/old/12765-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6e50c6c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12765-8.zip diff --git a/old/12765-h.zip b/old/12765-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..8fe11f3 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12765-h.zip diff --git a/old/12765-h/12765-h.htm b/old/12765-h/12765-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..dc69815 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/12765-h/12765-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2938 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Geordie'S Tryst + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + div {text-align: center;} + img {width: 350px} + + * { font-family: Times, sans-serif;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + H3 {font-style: italic} + HR { width: 33%; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em;} + BODY{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%;} + .linenum {position: absolute; top: auto; left: 4%;} /* poetry number */ + .note {margin-left: 2em; margin-right: 2em; margin-bottom: 1em;} /* block indent */ + // --> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Geordie's Tryst, by Mrs. Milne Rae + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Geordie's Tryst + A Tale of Scottish Life + +Author: Mrs. Milne Rae + +Release Date: June 28, 2004 [EBook #12765] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORDIE'S TRYST *** + + + + +Produced by Miranda van de Heijning and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>GEORDIE'S TRYST</h1> +<br> + + + + +<h2>A TALE OF SCOTTISH LIFE.</h2> +<br> + +<h2>[Attributed to Mrs. Milne Rae]</h2> + + +<div> <img src="images/003.png" alt="TITLE PAGE"> </div> + + + + +<div> + +<H2>TABLE OF CONTENTS </H2> + +<a href="#CHAPTER_I"><b>CHAPTER I. GRACE CAMPBELL.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_II"><b>CHAPTER II. THE SEARCH.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_III"><b>CHAPTER III. THE FIRST SCHOLARS.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_IV"><b>CHAPTER IV. ELSIE GRAY.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_V"><b>CHAPTER V. HOW GEORDIE'S HERDING CAME TO AN END.</b></a><br> + <a href="#CHAPTER_VI"><b>CHAPTER VI. AND OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW NAME.</b></a><br> + +</div> + +<div> <img src="images/002.png" alt="GEORDIE'S HERDING ENDED."> </div> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_I"></a><h2>CHAPTER I.</h2> + +<h3>GRACE CAMPBELL.</h3> + +<img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 250px" src="images/005.png" alt="IT"> + +<br> + +<p>was a chilly Scotch spring day. The afternoon sun glistened with +fitful, feeble rays on the windows of the old house of Kirklands, and +unpleasant little gusts of east wind came eddying round its ancient +gables, and sweeping along its broad walks and shrubberies, sending a +chill to the hearts of all the young green things that were struggling +into life.</p> + +<p>On the time-worn steps of the grey mansion there stood a girl, cloaked +and bonneted for a walk, notwithstanding the uninviting weather.</p> + +<p>"It's a fule's errand, I assure ye, Miss Grace, and on such an +afternoon, too. I've been askin' at old Adam the gardener, and he says +there isna one o' the kind left worth mindin' in all the valley o' +Kirklands. So do not go wanderin' on such an errand in this bitter wind, +missy."</p> + +<p>The speaker was an old woman, standing in the doorway, glancing with an +expression of kindly anxiety towards the girl, who leant on one of the +carved griffins of the old stone railing.</p> + +<p>Grace had been looking at the speaker with troubled eyes as she listened +to her remonstrance, and now she said, meditatively, "Does old Adam +really say so, Margery?" Then with a quick gesture she turned to go down +the steps, adding cheerily, "Well, there's no harm in trying, and as for +the wind, that doesn't matter a bit. It's what Walter would call a nice +breezy day. I'm really going, nursie. Shut the door, and keep your old +self warm. I shall be home again by the time aunt has finished her +afternoon's sleep." And Grace turned quickly away, not in the direction +of the sheltered elm avenue, but across the park, by the path which led +most quickly beyond the grounds. Presently she slackened her pace, and +turning for a moment she glanced rather ruefully towards the high walls +of the old garden, as if prudence dictated that she should seek fuller +information there, before she set out on this search, which she had +planned that afternoon. The old nurse's words on the subject seemed to +have sent a chilling gust to her heart, harder to bear than the bitter +spring wind. Old Adam certainly knew the countryside better than anybody +else, she pondered, and he seemed to have given it as his decision that +she would not find her search successful.</p> + +<p>Was it a rare plant growing in the valley that Grace was in search of? +Then, surely, the gardener was right; she should wait till the warm +sunshine came, and the south winds wafted sweet scents about, leading to +where the pleasant flowers grow among the cozy moss. Or did she mean to +go to the green velvety haughs of the winding river to get her +fishing-rod and tackle into working order at the little boat-house, and +try to tempt some unwary trout to eat his last supper, as she and her +brother Walter used to do in sunny summer evenings long ago?</p> + +<p>These had been very pleasant days, and their lingering memories came +hovering round Grace as she stood once again among the familiar haunts, +after an absence of years. Echoes of merry ringing tones, in which her +own mingled, seemed to resound through the wooded paths, where only the +parching wind whistled shrilly to-day, and a boyish voice seemed still +to call impatiently under the lozenge-paned window of the old +school-room, "Gracie, Gracie, are you not done with lessons yet? Do come +out and play." And how dreary "Noel and Chapsal" used to grow all of a +sudden when that invitation came, and with what relentless slowness the +hands of the old clock dragged through the lesson-hour still to run.</p> + +<p>But the quaint old window has the shutters on it now, and the eager face +that used to seek his caged playmate through its bars is looking out on +new lands from his wandering home at sea. The little girl, too, who used +to sit in the dim school-room seems to hear other voices calling to her +this afternoon.</p> + +<p>And while Grace stands hesitating whether, after all, it might be wise +to go into the garden to hear what old Adam has to say before she +proceeded to the high road, we shall try to find what earnest quest sent +her out this afternoon, in spite of her old nurse's remonstrances and +the east wind.</p> + +<p>Grace Campbell's father and mother died when she was very young, and +since then her home had been with her aunt. For the last few years Miss +Hume had been so infirm that she did not feel able to undertake the +journey to Kirklands, a small property in the north of Scotland, which +she inherited from her father. Her winter home was Edinburgh, and Miss +Hume for some years had only ventured on a short journey to the nearest +watering-place, while her country home stood silent and deserted, with +only the ancient gardener and his wife wandering about through the +darkened rooms and the old garden, with its laden fruit-trees and its +flowers run to seed. But, to Grace's great delight, her aunt had +announced some months before that if she felt strong enough for the +journey, she meant to go to Kirklands early in the spring. It seemed as +if in her fading autumnal time she longed to see the familiar woods and +dells of her childhood's home grow green again with returning life. So +the darkened rooms had been opened to the sun again, and on the day +before our story begins, some of the former inmates had taken possession +of them.</p> + +<p>The three years during which Grace had been absent from Kirklands had +proved very eventful to her in many ways. There had been some changes in +her outer life. Walter, her only brother and playmate, had left home to +go to sea. They had only had one passing visit from him since, so +changed in his midshipman's dress, with his broadened shoulders and +bronzed face, and so full of sailor life and talk, that his playmate had +hardly composure of mind to discover till he was gone that the same +loving heart still beat under the blue dress and bright buttons. And +while she thought of him with a new pride, she felt an undercurrent of +sadness in the consciousness that the pleasant threads of daily +intercourse had been broken, and the old childish playfellow had passed +away.</p> + +<p>But as the golden gate of childhood thus closed on Grace Campbell, +another gate opened for her which led to pleasant places. It had, +indeed, been waiting open for her ever since she came into the world, +though she had often passed it by unheeded. But at last there came to +Grace a glimpse of the shining light which still guides the way of +seeking souls to "yonder wicket gate." She began to feel an intense +longing to enter there and begin that new life to which it leads. She +knocked, and found that it was open for her, and entering there she met +the gracious Guide who had beckoned her to come, whispering in the +silence of her heart, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Not long +after Grace had begun to walk in this path, an event happened which +proved to her like the visit to the "Interpreter's House" in the +Pilgrim's story; but in order to explain its full eventfulness, we must +go back to tell of earlier days in her aunt's home.</p> + +<p>On Sunday mornings Grace usually drove with her aunt to church in +decorous state. When Walter was at home he made one of the carriage +party, though generally under protest, declaring that it would be "ever +so much jollier to walk than to be bowled along in that horrid old +rumble," as he used irreverently to designate his aunt's rather antique +chariot. When they arrived at church, the children followed their aunt's +slow steps to one of the pews in the gallery, where Miss Hume used to +take the precautionary measure of separating them by sending Grace to +the top of the seat, and placing herself between the vivacious Walter +and his playmate. Notwithstanding this precaution, they generally +contrived to find comfortable recreative resources during the service, +bringing all their inventive energy to bear on creating new diversions +as each Sunday came round. There was always their Aunt Hume's fur cloak +to stroke the wrong way, if there was nothing more diverting within +reach; had it only been the cat, whose sentiments regarding a like +treatment of her fur were too well known to Walter, he felt that the +pleasure would have been greater. Sometimes, indeed, the amusements were +of a strictly mental nature, conducted in the "chambers of imagery." +Miss Hume would feel gratified by the stillness of posture and the +earnest gaze in her nephew's eyes. They were certainly not fixed +directly on the preacher, but surely the boy must be listening, or he +would never be so quiet. Grace, however, was in the secret, and knew +better. Walter had confided to her that he had got such "a jolly +make-believe" to think about in church. The great chandelier which hung +from the centre of the church ceiling, with its poles, and chains, and +brackets, was transformed in his imagination to a ship's mast and +rigging, where he climbed and swung, and performed marvellous feats, +also in imagination, be it understood. And so it happened that Grace +could guess where her brother's thoughts were when he sat gazing +dreamily at the huge gilded chandelier of the city church.</p> + +<p>Other imaginings had sometimes grown round it for Grace when it was all +lit up in the short winter days at afternoon service, and queer lights +and shadows fell on the gilded cherubs that decorated it, till their +wings seemed to move and hover over the heads of the congregation. To +Grace's childish mind they had been the embodiment of angels ever since +she could remember; and even long after childish things were put away +there remained a strange link between her conception of angelic beings +and those burnished cherubs whose serene, shining faces looked down +benignantly over the drowsy congregation on dark winter afternoons.</p> + +<p>But all these imaginings certainly came under the catalogue of +"wandering thoughts," from which the old minister always prayed at the +opening of the service that they might be delivered. So it is to be +feared that the sermon had not even the chance of the wayside seed in +the parable of sinking into the children's hearts. The words of her +aunt's old minister had as yet proved little more than an outside sound +to Grace, though she was in the habit of listening more observantly than +her brother. But there came a day when, amidst those familiar +surroundings, with the molten cherubs looking serenely down on her, she +heard words which made her heart burn within her, and kindled a flame +which lasted as long as life.</p> + +<p>It was on a Sunday afternoon in November, not long after Walter left. +Miss Hume was ailing, and unable to go to church, so it was arranged +that Margery should accompany Grace. The old nurse attended the same +church, and Grace had been in the habit of going under her wing when her +aunt was obliged to remain at home. The walk to church through the +crowded streets was a pleasant change, and Grace was in high spirits +when she ensconced herself at the top of Margery's seat—which was a +much better observatory than her aunt's pew—where every thing could be +seen that was interesting and amusing within the four walls. Besides, +there were small amenities connected with a seat in nurse's pew which +had great attractions for Grace when she was a little girl, and had +still a lingering charm for her. In the pew behind there sat a worthy +couple, friends of Margery, who exchanged friendly salutations with her +on Sunday, always including a kindly nod of recognition to her charges +if they happened to be with her. Then, at a certain juncture in the +service, the worthy tinsmith, for that was his calling, would hand +across the book-board his ancient silver snuff-box, of the contents of +which he himself partook freely and noisily. Of course, Margery only +used it politely, after the manner of a scent-bottle; and then Grace +came in for her turn of it, with a warning glance from nurse to beware +of staining her hat-strings, or any other serious effects from the +odorous powder. If Walter happened to be invited to enjoy the +privilege, he always contrived to secrete a deposit of the snuff between +his finger and thumb, being most anxious to imitate the tinsmith's +accomplishment. He was, however, afraid to make his first essay in +church, in case of sneezing symptoms, and before he had a chance of a +quiet moment to make the experiment when they left the pew, he used +generally to be caught by Margery, and summoned to put on his glove like +a gentleman, and any resistance was sure to end in the discovery and +loss of the precious pinch of snuff. Then the tinsmith's wife had also +her own congenial resources for comfort during service, which she +delighted to share with her neighbours. Grace used to receive a little +tap on the shoulder, and, on looking round, a box of peppermint lozenges +lay waiting her in the old woman's fat palm. These were very homely +little interchanges of friendship, but they made part of the happy +childish world to Grace, and years after, when the old pew knew her no +more, and she asked admittance to it as a stranger, she glanced round in +the vain hope of catching a glimpse of the broad, shining, kindly faces +of the old couple, feeling that to see them in their place would bring +back many pleasanter bygone associations than snuff and peppermint +lozenges.</p> + +<p>On this Sunday afternoon Grace perceived that there was something out of +the ordinary routine in prospect. The pews were filling more quickly +than they usually did. Strangers were gathering in the passage, and a +general flutter of excitement and expectation seemed everywhere to +prevail.</p> + +<p>"What is going to happen, I wonder, Margery?" whispered Grace, +impatiently; and presently the tinsmith leant across the book-board and +kindly volunteered the information that they were going to have a +"strange minister the night, and a special collection for some +new-fangled thing."</p> + +<p>And then Grace turned towards the pulpit in time to see the "strange +minister," who had just entered it. He was a tall man, of a stately +though easy presence, with grace and life in every gesture. As she +looked at him Grace Campbell was reminded of an historical scene, a +picture of which hung in the old hall at Kirklands, of a mixed group of +Cavaliers and Puritans. This preacher seemed in his appearance curiously +to combine the varied characteristics of both the types of men in these +portraits. That graceful flexibility of tone and movement, the high +forehead and waving locks, surely belong to the gallant old Cavalier, +but there is something of the stern Puritan too. The resoluteness of +the firm though mobile mouth betokens a strength of moral purpose, which +does not belong to the caste of the mere court gentleman; about those +delicately-cut nostrils there dwells a possibility of quivering +indignation, and in the eyes that are looking broodingly down on the +congregation true pathos and keen humour are strangely blended.</p> + +<p>Presently the deep, flexible voice, which had the soul of music in its +tones, re-echoed through the church as he called the people to worship +God, and read some verses of an old psalm. Familiar as the words were to +Grace, they seemed as he read them to have a new meaning, to be no +longer seven verses with queer, out-of-the-way expressions, that had +cost her trouble to learn as a Sunday evening's task, but a beautiful, +real prayer to a God that was listening, and would hear, as the "strange +minister's" voice pealed out,—</p> + +"Lord, bless and pity us,<br> +Shine on us with Thy face;<br> +That the earth Thy way, and nations all<br> +May know Thy saving grace."<br> + +<p>And when the sermon came, and the preacher began to talk in thrilling +words of that saving health which the Great Healer of souls had died to +bring to all nations, Grace felt the reality of those unseen, eternal +things of which he spoke as she had never done before. Then there were +interspersed with those faithful, burning words for God beautiful +illustrations from nature, which fascinated the little girl's +imagination, as she sat gazing, not at the gilded cherubs to-night, but +on the benignant, earnest face of the speaker. He surely must have been +a sailor, or he could never have known so well what a storm at sea was +like, she thought, as she listened, spell-bound, feeling as if she was +looking out on the angry sea, with the helpless wrecking ships tossing +upon the waves; but then in another moment he took them into the thick +of some ancient battle, where the brave-hearted "nobly conquering lived +or conquering died;" or it was to some fair, pastoral scene, and then +the preacher seemed to know so well all the delights of heathery hills +and pleasant mossy glades, that Grace thought he certainly must have +been at Kirklands and wandered among its woods and braes. And into each +of his wonderful photographs he wove many holy, stirring thoughts of +God, and of those "ways" of his that may be known upon the earth, of +which they had been singing.</p> + +<p>Presently the preacher began to talk of what the worthy tinsmith had +called the "new-fangled scheme," for which, he said, he stood there to +plead that evening. He had come to ask help for the little outcast city +children. It was before the days when School Boards were born or thought +of that this gallant-hearted man sought to move the feelings and rouse +the consciences of men on behalf of those who seemed to have no helper. +It was for aid to establish schools for those destitute children, where +they might be clothed and fed as well as educated, that he went on to +plead. Grace sat entranced, listening to the preacher, as with the +"flaming swords of living words, he fought for the poor and weak." Never +before in the course of her narrow, sheltered child-life had she, even +in imagination, been brought face to face with the manifold wants and +woes of her poorer brothers and sisters, or understood the service to +which the Son of Man summons all his faithful followers: "Is it not to +deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast +out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and +that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?"</p> + +<p>It seemed to Grace, when the preacher had ceased, as if a new world of +loving work and of duty stretched before her; for could she not become +one of that band whom the preacher called in such thrilling words to +enroll themselves in this service of love?</p> + +<p>When the eloquent voice paused, and the congregation began to sing +again, Grace still felt the words sounding like trumpet-notes in her +heart. How she longed to ask the minister to take her to those courts +and alleys, and to tell her in what way she might best help those +neglected ones. How many plans coursed through her eager little brain +for their succour. But the preacher had said he wanted money for their +help; a collection was to be made before they left the church.</p> + +<p>Grace's store of pocket-money was slender, and, moreover, was not in her +pocket now. How gladly would she have emptied her little silken purse, +if she had only had it with her; but, alas! it lay uselessly in her +drawer at home. Her conventional penny had been put into the plate at +the door, as she came into church, and Grace thought ruefully that she +had nothing—nothing to give to help these poor forsaken ones, whose +hard lot had so touched her heart. Just then, however, she happened to +raise her hand to her neck, and was reminded of an ornament which she +always wore, the only precious thing she possessed. It was an +old-fashioned locket, with rows of pearls round it, and in the centre a +baby lock of her own hair, which her mother used to wear. Her Aunt Hume +had some time ago taken it out of the old jewel-case which awaited her +when Grace was old enough to be trusted with its contents, and given it +to her to wear, so it was her very own. But was not this a worthy +occasion for bringing of one's best and most precious things? Might not +this pearl locket help to bring some little outcast waif into paths of +pleasantness and peace? Yes, the locket should be given to the special +collection, Grace resolved; but it might not be wise, to divulge the +intention to Margery, who had already replied, when she was asked by +Grace if she could lend her any money, that nobody would expect a +collection from such a young lady.</p> + +<p>When the crowd moved away from the passage, and began to scatter, +Margery and her charge left the old pew in the highest gallery and +prepared to go down the great staircase which led to the entrance door. +Near the door there stood two elders of the church, with metal plates in +their hands, waiting for the offerings of the congregation. Grace had +been holding hers tightly in her hand, having untied it from her neck +and slipped the ribbon in her pocket, and now she laid it gently among +the silver, and the pennies, and the Scotch bank-notes, hoping that it +might slip unobserved between one of the crumpled notes, and so escape +the detective glance of Margery's quick eyes. But her hope was vain. +Nurse caught sight of the pearls gleaming pure and white among the other +offerings: "Missy, what have you done? Your locket! your mamma's +beautiful pearl locket! Did I ever see the like? It's a mistake, sir. +Miss Campbell could not have meant it," she said, turning to the elder, +with her hand raised to recapture it.</p> + +<p>"Stop, Margery, it is not a mistake; I meant to put it there," replied +Grace in an eager whisper, as she pulled her nurse's shawl, glancing +timidly at the elder, as if she feared he was going to conspire with +Margery, and that, after all, her offering would be rejected.</p> + +<p>"Missy! are you mad? What will your aunt say? Really, sir, will you be +so kind?"—and Margery did not finish her sentence, but looked piteously +at the elder, who was glancing at the little girl with a kindly, though +questioning expression in his eyes, saying presently:</p> + +<p>"You may have your locket back, if you wish it, my child. Perhaps you +have given it hastily, and may regret it afterwards, and we would not +like to have your jewel in these circumstances."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you, sir," Margery was beginning to say, in a grateful tone, +when Grace interrupted her.</p> + +<p>"No, please don't, sir, I will not take it back. It was my very own, and +I have given it to God, to use for these poor, sad boys and girls," +Grace added, in a tremulous tone.</p> + +<p>Then the old elder looked at Margery, and said, "My friend, I cannot +help you further. Neither you nor I have anything to do with this gift; +it is between the giver and the Receiver."</p> + +<p>There was something solemn in his tone which kept the still indignant +Margery from saying more, and she prepared to move away with her charge. +But, as she turned to go, she caught a glimpse of her acquaintance the +tinsmith, who was in the act of dropping into the plate a crumpled +Scotch bank-note, which he held in his broad palm.</p> + +<p>"Bless me, they're all going daft together," muttered Margery, with +uplifted hands, as she hurried away. "It was a very good discourse, no +doubt, but to think of folk strippin' themselves like that—a pun'-note, +forsooth, near the half of the week's work; the man's gone clean +demented."</p> + +<p>But the tinsmith's serene, smiling face showed no sign of any aberration +of intellect, and Margery took Grace's hand, and hurried her through the +crowd, resolved that she should not, for another instant, stand by and +countenance such reckless expenditure.</p> + +<p>Grace was conscious that her old nurse was still possessed by a strong +feeling of disapproval regarding her donation, so she rather avoided +conversation; besides, she had a great deal to think about as she walked +along the crowded lamp-lit streets by Margery's side.</p> + +<p>At last they reached the quiet square where Miss Hume lived, and as they +crossed the grass-grown pavement and went up the steps to the house, +Grace glanced up to the curtained window of her aunt's sitting-room, and +suddenly remembered, with a feeling of discomfort, that Miss Hume must +presently be told of the destination of her locket; if not by herself, +certainly by Margery, who had just heaved a heavy sigh, and was +evidently girding herself up for the painful duty of narrating the +strange behaviour of her charge.</p> + +<p>"Now, Margery, I'm going to auntie, to tell her about the locket, this +very minute, so you need not trouble about it," said Grace, as she ran +quickly upstairs to her aunt's room and closed the door.</p> + +<p>Margery never knew exactly what passed, nor how Miss Hume's +well-regulated mind was ever reconciled to such an impulsive act on the +part of her niece. But, as she sat at her usual post by the old lady +next day, while she took her afternoon's rest, Miss Hume said rather +unexpectedly, when Margery concluded she was asleep, "Margery, you +remember my sister? Does it not strike you that Miss Campbell is getting +very like her mother? These children are a great responsibility to me; I +wish their mother had been spared," she added, rather irrelevantly, it +seemed to Margery, and then presently she fell asleep without any +reference to the locket question.</p> + +<p>But that night, when Grace was going to bed, she told her old nurse that +her aunt had promised that when they went back to Kirklands again she +might try to find some little boys and girls to teach, and that she +would allow her to have one of the old rooms for her class. She did not +tell how eagerly she had asked that, in the meantime, she might be +allowed to try and help the neglected city children, to whose +necessities she had been awakened by such thrilling words that day, +though Miss Hume had thought it wise to restrain her impatience. But +out of that evening's events had grown the cherished plan which sent +Grace on such a chilly afternoon among the woods and braes of Kirklands +to seek any boy or girl who might need her help and friendship.</p> + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/026.png" alt="End of Chapter I"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_II"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/027.png" alt="Chapter II"> </div> + +<h3>THE SEARCH</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/m.png" alt="M"> + +iss Hume, Grace's aunt, left the management of Kirklands entirely in +the hands of her business agent. Mr. Graham met the tenants, gathered +the rents, arranged the leases, and directed the improvements without +even a nominal interference on her part. And certainly he +conscientiously performed these duties with a view to his client's +interests. It may be wondered that Miss Hume did not take a more +personal interest in her tenants, but various things had contributed to +this state of matters. Indeed, she was now so infirm that it would have +been difficult for her to take any active interest in things around her, +especially as it had not been the habit of her earlier years to do so.</p> + +<p>It was her younger sister, Grace's mother, who used to know all the +dwellers in the valley so well that her white pony could calculate the +distance to the pleasant farmyard at which he would get his next +mouthful of crisp corn; or the muirland cottage, with its delicious bit +of turf, where he would presently graze, as he waited for his young +mistress, while she talked to the inmates. But if the little girl with +her white pony could have come back again to Kirklands, they would have +missed many a familiar face, and searched in vain for many a cottage. +The pleasant little thatched dwellings, with velvety tufts of moss +studding the roof, and pretty creepers climbing till they mingled with +the brown thatch, telling of the inmates' loving fingers, were all swept +away now, and in the place that once knew them, stretched trim drills of +turnips, fenced by grim stone walls, to which time had not yet given a +moss-covered beauty.</p> + +<p>Mr. Graham had thought it wise for his client's interests to remove +those little "crofts," and merge their kailyards into productive fields; +so the dwellers in the greensward cottages had to wander townwards to +seek shelter and work in city courts and alleys. The land was now +divided into a few farms, on which stood imposing-looking houses, with +knockers and latch-keys to the doors, where the little girl and the +white pony would never have ventured to ask admittance, or cared to gain +it--where "nobody wanted nothin' from nobody," old Adam, the gardener, +had assured Margery, when she made anxious inquiries concerning the +prospect of Grace's search, and who hoped that this circumstantial +information might persuade her young mistress to abandon it.</p> + +<p>The prophecy that it was "a fule's errand" rang unpleasantly in Grace's +ear, as she crossed the park and climbed the rustic stiles which led to +the high road. It was true she knew that during the last three years +there had been many a "clearance" at Kirklands, for she remembered +having overheard Mr. Graham congratulating her aunt on the larger +returns owing to these improvements. But surely, she thought, there +might still be found some little cottages like those to which she heard +her mamma was so fond of going when she was a girl. Walter and she used +certainly, she remembered, often to see children with bare, dust-stained +feet on the road, when they happened to go beyond the grounds on a +fishing expedition, or down with their aunt through her lands; but her +brother had been an all-sufficient playmate, and Grace's interest in the +peasant children did not extend beyond a glance of curiosity. But now +how gladly would she gather a little company of them to tell them that +old sweet story, which had come to her own heart with such new strange +sweetness, during these winter days, though she had heard it ever since +she could remember. Grace hurried eagerly along the high road, looking +at every turn for traces of any lowly wayside dwellings. There used to +be a little clump of cottages here, she thought, as she stopped at a +bend of the road where there were traces of recent demolitions, and a +great field of green corn was evidently going to reclaim the waste +place, and presently swallow it up. Behind where the vanished cottages +had stood there stretched a glade of birch-trees, with their low twisted +stems rising from little knolls of turf so mossy and steep, that the +drills of turnips and potatoes could not possibly be ranged there +without destroying their symmetry, even though the crooked birch-trees +were to be swept away.</p> + +<p>Grace wandered among the budding trees, and through the soft springy +turf that was growing green again in spite of the bitter spring winds, +but she found no little native lurking among the birches, and was +disappointed to come to the other side of the wood much more quickly +than she expected, without the <i>détour</i> being of any practical use.</p> + +<p>The turf sloped away to a little stream that went singing cheerily over +sparkling pebbles, bubbling and foaming round the base of grey lichened +rocks, that reared their heads above the water, as if in angry +remonstrance at their daring to interfere with its progress. On the +opposite bank there stretched a bit of muirland pasture, studded with +little knolls of heather, growing green, in preparation for its richer +autumn tints. The pale spring sunlight began to grow more mellow in its +light at this afternoon hour; it glinted on the little gurgling stream, +lighted up the feathery birch glade, and lay in golden patches on the +opposite bank, where Grace noticed some cattle begin to gather on the +heathery knolls, as if they had come to enjoy the last hour of bright +sunshine. Perhaps some little cottages may be sheltered behind those +hillocks, Grace thought; and she began to examine how the grey rocks lay +among the water, and whether she could possibly find dry footing across +the stream. Presently she came upon a smooth row of stones, that were +evidently used as a thoroughfare. She had already begun to cross them, +keeping her eye cautiously fixed on the stepping-stones as she went +along, when she was startled by a voice which sounded close beside her. +On glancing round she saw on the opposite bank a boy standing with a +huge twisted cudgel in his hand, brandishing it in a warlike attitude. +He seemed to have suddenly appeared round one of the hillocks, and was +now shouting excitedly, in his rough northern dialect, as he waved his +stick:</p> + +<p>"Hold back, mem; hold back, I tell ye. Blackie is in one o' his ill +moods the day, and he's no safe. Dinna come a foot farther."</p> + +<p>Grace stood bewildered, balancing herself on the stepping-stones; the +apparition was so sudden that it almost took away her breath, and the +commands were so peremptory that she did not dare to disregard them by +going forward; but it seemed very hard to beat an ignominious retreat, +for here seemed to be just what she was in search of—a boy as +neglected-looking as any that were to be seen in the courts and alleys +of Edinburgh; of the very type which old Adam declared there was not one +to be found in all the lands of Kirklands. His head was bare, and his +flaxen hair so bleached by the sun that it looked quite white against +his bronzed face. He looked at Grace with a grave interest in his large +blue eyes, as if he would like to know a little more; but he still +brandished his cudgel before her, and shouted resolutely:</p> + +<p>"Hold back, or Blackie will be at ye."</p> + +<p>"But who is Blackie?" asked Grace, with a gasp, looking furtively round +in the direction of the birch wood, in case the said Blackie might be +approaching from behind.</p> + +<p>"Who's Blackie!" said the boy, repeating the question, as if to hold up +to ridicule the absurd ignorance which it implied. "Do ye no ken that +Blackie is Gowrie's bull—the ill-natertest bull in a' the +country-side?"</p> + +<p>"And what have you to do with Blackie?" asked Grace, glancing across to +the hillocks, where some cattle grazed inoffensively, in search of the +formidable animal.</p> + +<p>"I herd him—I'm Gowrie's herd-laddie. They're all terrible easy-managed +beasts but him, and he's full o' ill tricks. He can't bear woman-folks," +added the boy, with a slight mischievous twinkle in his eye; for he felt +more at his ease now, having assured himself that Blackie was much too +intent on some sweet blades of grass to give any trouble at that moment.</p> + +<p>"Gowrie! that's the old farm down in the hollow there, isn't it? And how +long have you been herding?" asked Grace, who still stood on the +stepping-stones, and pursued the conversation with the noisy little +stream babbling round her.</p> + +<p>"I was hired to Gowrie two year come Marti'mas, and afore that I herded +some sheep on the hill yonder. We had a hut all to oursels. I slept wi' +them a' night, and liked them terrible weel, a hantle better than the +cattle," and his eye wandered regretfully to a bleak mountain slope, +which had evidently pleasant associations for the little herd-boy.</p> + +<p>"Did you ever go to school?" asked Grace, anxious to introduce her +subject, for she thought she would like this boy for a scholar.</p> + +<p>"Ay, did I once, when I was a wee laddie. I was in the 'Third Primer,' +and could read pretty big words," and he fumbled in his jacket-pocket +for the collection of dog-eared leaves which represented his store of +learning.</p> + +<p>"Of course you can't go to school now on week days, when you have to +watch the cows; but perhaps you go to Sunday-school?" Grace asked; and +will it make her desire to do good appear very narrow and small, if it +must be confessed that she hoped to hear that he did not go to any? Her +mind was soon set at rest, however, for he presently replied:</p> + +<p>"The school at the kirk, ye mean? No; granny's dreadful deaf, and we +don't go to the kirk. I belong to Gowrie a' the week, but I'm granny's +on Sabbath; there's aye a deal to do, brakin' sticks and mendin' up +things, ye see."</p> + +<p>"And you really don't go to a Sunday-school?" exclaimed Grace, hardly +able to restrain her satisfaction at this piece of information. "But, +by-the-by, I have never asked your name. I should like to hear it, +because I hope we are going to be friends."</p> + +<p>"They call me Geordie Baxter," he replied, as he ran to check the +wanderings of one of the cows, while Grace stood watching him, as she +pondered how she might best frame an invitation asking him to be her +scholar. He seemed so manly and independent, though he was so young; +and, somehow, it was all so different from how she had planned her +finding of scholars. She had been looking for a cottage where the +tattered children might be crawling about the doorstep, making mudpies +and quarrelling with each other; and then she thought she would knock at +the door, after she had spoken to them for a little, and ask their +mother if she might have them to teach on Sunday. But this boy, ignorant +and neglected as he seemed to be, had certainly a manly dignity which +made Grace's invitations more difficult than she expected; though, after +all, he could only spell words of one syllable, and he went neither to +school nor to church. Surely he was the sort of scholar she had been in +search of. So when he returned to his former position opposite the +stepping-stones, after having admonished the straying cow—</p> + +<p>"Well, Geordie, I am going to ask you if you will come to Kirklands, +where I live, on Sunday afternoons; and since you do not go to any +school, I can read a little to you, and perhaps help you to learn +something?" said Grace, not venturing to be more explicit on what she +wished to teach. "Do you think you would like to come?"</p> + +<p>"Ay, would I," he replied, eagerly. "I'm terrible anxious to learn to +read the long words without spellin' them." And then he stopped and +looked hesitatingly at Grace. "Would ye take Jean, I wonder?" he said, +coming a few steps on the stones in his eagerness. "She's my sister, and +a good bit littler than me, and she can't read any, but I'm thinkin' she +could learn," he added, in a sanguine tone.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, certainly; I shall be so happy if you will bring your sister," +replied Grace, looking radiant, for she had; ust been thinking that +though Geordie was certainly a very valuable unit, he could hardly, in +his own person, make the "Sunday class" on which she had set her heart.</p> + +<p>"But I thought ye couldn't bear poor folk at Kirklands," said Geordie, +reflectively, glancing at Grace, after he had pondered over the +invitation. "Granny's aye frightened they will be takin' our housie from +us, as they have done from so many puir folk;" and then the boy stopped +suddenly, and a deep red flush rose under his bronzed cheek as he +remembered that he must be speaking to one of those same "Kirklands +folk."</p> + +<p>"Oh, your grandmother needn't be afraid of that. I am sure my aunt would +not wish to take away her home," replied Grace, hurriedly, also flushing +with vexation, and resolving that she would certainly listen with more +interest, if she happened to be present at the next interview, to Mr. +Graham's narratives concerning the improvements, seeing that they seemed +to involve the improving away of the natives off the face of the +country.</p> + +<p>Just then the sound of a horn came across the heather, and Geordie +started off, saying, "There's Gowrie's horn sounding; I must away and +gather home the kye." And he darted off across the hillocks in search of +his scattered charges, giving a succession of whoops and shrieks as he +brandished his cudgel and whirled about in the discharge of his duty, +quite ignoring Grace, who still stood on the stepping-stones, feeling +rather sorry that the interview had terminated so abruptly, for she +remembered a great many questions she would like to have asked.</p> + +<p>Presently Geordie, by dint of his exertions, managed to arrange the +cattle, with the formidable Blackie in front, in quite an orderly +procession, and he now prepared to move towards the farm, whose white +gables were visible from the pasture. He never looked back at Grace, or +gave any parting sign of recognition of her presence, and she began to +fear that perhaps after all he might forget about her invitation and +fail to appear on Sunday.</p> + +<p>"You won't forget to come to Kirklands on Sunday afternoon, Geordie?" +she called after him, trying to raise her voice above the noisy little +stream.</p> + +<p>"Didna I say that I would come and bring Jean? and I aye keep my +trysts," he shouted back again, with a look of indignant astonishment +that she should have imagined him capable of forgetting or failing to +keep his promise; and then he trudged away cheerily, swinging his stick, +more full of the idea of this "tryst" than Grace could guess, though his +mind dwelt chiefly on the thought of what a grand thing it would be for +little Jean to get a chance of learning to read. He was painfully +conscious that he had signally failed in his attempts to teach her, and +he was the only teacher she had ever had.</p> + +<p>In this little, unkempt, sun-bleached herd-boy there dwelt a very +tender, chivalrous heart, and on his little sister Jean all his wealth, +of affection had as yet been bestowed. Never did faithful knight serve +his lady-love more devotedly than Geordie had this little brown maiden, +since her earliest babyhood.</p> + +<p>They were orphans, and ever since they could remember their home had +been with their grandmother, a frail, dreamy old woman, so deaf that the +most active and varied gesticulation was the only means of conveying to +her the remotest idea of what one wished to say. Geordie, indeed, was +the only person sufficiently careless of his lungs to attempt the medium +of speech, and then his conversation was pitched in the same key as when +he performed his herding functions.</p> + +<p>To the little Jean, Geordie had been playmate and protector in one, her +absolute slave from the time she sat on her old grandmother's knee, and, +tiring of that position, lisped out, "Deordie, Deordie," holding out her +little brown hands so that he might take her, and then they would sit +together on the earthen floor of the cottage, and the gipsy locks would +intermingle with Geordie's flaxen hair, which yielded meekly to as rough +treatment from the little brown fingers as ever hapless terrier of the +nursery was called on to undergo. But Geordie's sun-bleached locks had +always been at her service, and his head and hands too; though it was +not much that the little herd-boy had been able to do for his sister. +Often as he lay on the heather, watching his cows, he smiled with +delight as he thought of the time when he should be promoted into a farm +servant, with wages enough to send Jean to school, and to buy her a +pretty print dress, all dotted with blue stars, like the one Mistress +Gowrie wore. As yet all his earnings had gone to pay board to his +grandmother, and for present necessities in the shape of shoes and +corduroys. He had in one of his pockets a little chamois bag, containing +a few shillings, which he always carried about with him; and it was one +of his recreations to spread them on one of the flat, grey stones and +count the silver pieces as they glittered in the sun. He knew well what +he meant to do with them when the pile grew large enough; but its growth +was a very slow one, and required much self-denial on Geordie's part, +seeing that the component parts of each shilling were generally gathered +in a stray penny now and then, which he earned by holding a market-going +farmer's cob; and if, by a rare chance, a sixpence happened to be the +unexpected result of one such service, then Geordie felt that he was +really getting rich, and would soon be able to buy what he had wished +for so long. It was not anything for himself, or even for Jean, as +might have been expected. Somebody had once told him that if his +grandmother only had an ear-trumpet she would be able to hear people +when they spoke to her. Geordie had the vaguest idea of what such an +instrument might be like, but decided that probably it bore some +resemblance in size or sound to the horn that summoned his cows home; +and having ascertained how much money it would cost, he resolved that he +would buy one for his granny whenever he could save the sum.</p> + +<p>The boy's heart was full of tender pity for the old deaf woman, with her +weird helpless ways, at whose side he had grown since his infancy; +though she could hardly have been said to "bring him up," for Granny +Baxter had been shiftless and unlovable when she was in possession of +her faculties, and her character had not improved under her trying +infirmities. Her grandson, however, always treated her with a tender +patience which no querulousness of the old woman could weary. Not so +little Jean. Only once she could remember her brother looking very grave +and grieved, and it was one day when she had refused to do something +that the old woman wanted, and put her in a white heat of passion by her +rebellion. Having escaped beyond the reach of her poor granny's +tottering feet, and, finding her way to the field where Geordie was +herding, she began to narrate her story in triumph, when her brother's +grave silence made her feel how naughty she had been. After that day +little Jean always tried to "mind" granny more, though she never +attained to the same unwearied service as Geordie.</p> + +<p>That Jean's education was being sadly neglected her brother felt +painfully, and he had made various efforts to teach her the little he +knew himself; but the knowledge contained in the "Third Primer" barely +sufficed for teaching purposes, and Geordie found, moreover, that the +little Jean was by no means an apt scholar. Indeed, the most hopeless +confusion continued to prevail in her small mind concerning the letters +of the alphabet, notwithstanding all his efforts. The natural history +lessons, however, had been a greater success; she had learnt from +Geordie the names of most trees and flowers that grew wild in the +valley, and knew the difference between a wagtail and a wren, which some +people who know their alphabet do not. Geordie sometimes thought that it +might be nice for Jean to go to the kirk, for it was from Jean's point +of view that he looked at most things in life. But then there was the +insuperable difficulty about Sunday clothes, so the idea had always +been given up after due consideration each time it presented itself to +his mind, and the church-going was reserved for that golden period when +Jean would be clothed in the blue-starred print frock, and he should +have a suit of Sunday clothes. Perhaps, with the encouragement of the +ear-trumpet, even frail granny might be conducted to church, Geordie +thought, hopefully, for he knew that she had the essentials of +church-going, as they presented themselves to his mind, stowed away in +an ancient chest-of-drawers where she kept her valuables.</p> + +<p>But in the interval, and while these happy days of good wages and +schooling for Jean and Sunday clothes still lay in the distance, this +invitation to go to the house of Kirklands to be taught on Sunday +afternoon was very delightful indeed, Geordie thought, as he trudged +home with dust-stained feet, carrying his shoes slung across his +shoulders, to pay an evening visit to his granny, eager to tell Jean +about the interview with the young lady and of the invitation. He knew +the news would be welcome to his grandmother also, for it had been one +of her standing grievances ever since he could remember that next rent +day Mr. Graham would be sure to give her notice to quit. And, indeed, if +the truth must be told, it was owing to Geordie's own useful and +reliable qualities that the little household had not long ago been told +to move on, and to make way for more money-making tenants. Farmer Gowrie +was one of the oldest residents on the estate, and he had frequently, as +he used daily to inform Granny Baxter, put in a good word for her with +the agent, and begged him to let the little cottage stand during the old +woman's lifetime; for where could he get a boy like Geordie at the same +money, as he remarked to his wife, so handy, so careful, so fearless of +Blackie, "the ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," who, under +his guidance, was meek as a lamb.</p> + +<p>But notwithstanding Gowrie's assurances that their home was safe, +Geordie knew that his grandmother would be very much pleased to know, if +he could make her understand the fact, that he had, that afternoon, +talked with a lady from the "big hoose" itself. She seemed kind and +"pleasant-spoken," and not at all the terrible ogre that Geordie always +imagined the lady of Kirklands to be. As the rent day came round, and he +went to the inn-parlour where the agent sat to receive the rents, he +used to lay the money on the table and then turn away quickly with a +beating heart, in case granny's oft-repeated prophecy should prove +true, and the dreaded notice to quit should really be coming at last. +But instead of any such terrible communication, after he had stood the +penetrating glance of the bald-headed factor, a kindly nod used +generally to follow, and presently Geordie was galloping home at the top +of his speed to assure his grandmother that there was no word of "a +flittin'" this Martinmas. And now he felt that their home was more +secure than ever, for had not the lady said that she was sure nobody +wanted to turn them out of it?</p> + +<p>Geordie's chief source of delight during his walk home was the thought +of what a pleasant outing the walk to Kirklands would be for Jean, for +there were many things within the lodge gates that she had heard of and +would like to see. Perhaps they might get a glimpse of the walled-in +garden as they passed, which Geordie had heard of from his master, who +was a friend of old Adam the gardener, and had been sometimes invited by +him to take a turn through his domain. But the happiest thought of all +was, that, perhaps, Jean might get more interested in her alphabet when +the young lady taught her. He resolved that he must not forget to take +the "Third Primer" with him, for it was possible that the young lady +might not exactly understand what they needed to be taught; for, after +all, she did not look so very old, he pondered, as he compared her +appearance with Mistress Gowrie's, the one grown specimen of the female +sex, except his grandmother, who made up his small world.</p> + + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/046.png" alt="End of Chapter II"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_III"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/047.png" alt="Chapter III"> </div> + +<h3>THE FIRST SCHOLARS</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/g.png" alt="G"> +race Campbell hurried home with not less eagerness than her future +scholar, to tell the news of her expedition at Kirklands. Her Aunt Hume +was only half awakened from her afternoon nap, and glanced with dropsy +eyes at the glowing face, as she listened to her niece's description of +how and where she had found Geordie.</p> + +<p>"Baxter! I do not remember that name; I must ask Mr. Graham who they +are, and all about them, nest time he comes," said Miss Hume, after +Grace had finished her eager narration, and stood twirling her hat in +her hand, hesitating whether she should tell her aunt Geordie's +impression of what sort of people the "Kirklands folk" were; but just at +that moment tea was brought, and on reflection, Grace resolved that, for +the present, it would be wise to keep silent on that point. Two days +passed quickly, and Sunday afternoon found Grace hovering about the +door of the little room which her aunt had given to her for her class. +She had been seated in state at a table which Margery had placed for +her, at what the old nurse considered a suitable angle of distance from +the form arranged for the scholars; but Grace began to think it felt +rather formidable to be waiting seated there, so she gathered up the +books again, and wandered between the avenue and the little room, +waiting with impatience the arrival of her first scholars, and having a +vague fear lest they might not be forthcoming after all.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Geordie and his little sister were toiling along the dusty +highway in an excited, expectant state of mind. The shady elm avenue was +a refreshing change after the hot white turnpike road. Geordie looked +keenly about him, noting all the well-kept walks and shrubberies, among +which he saw many plants that were not natives of the valley, and +thought he should like, sometime, to examine them more closely.</p> + +<p>At last they came in sight of the grey gables of the old mansion, and +little Jean grasped her brother's hand more closely, and looked up with +a frightened glance at the many windows, which seemed to her like so +many great eyes all staring at her. She began to wish that she was +safe back in her granny's cottage again, but consoled herself by +thinking that as long as she had hold of Geordie's hand nothing very +dreadful could possibly happen. Geordie, too, was somewhat overawed by +the nearer view of the "big hoose," which certainly seemed much more +formidable in its dimensions than it did from the moorland, where he +used to get a glimpse of it while he watched the sheep, and then it +looked no larger than the grey cairn which he made his watch-tower, but +now it seemed to frown above him, and the windows, too, began to create +uncomfortable sensations in his mind as well as Jean's.</p> + +<p>With the sight of his friend of the stepping-stones, his flagging +courage returned, for had he not conversed with her on his own domain, +and been invited by her to pay this visit?</p> + +<p>"This is Jean," he said, immediately looking up at Grace with his frank +smile, as he gave his sister a little push forward.</p> + +<p>"I have kept my tryst, ye see. You thought, maybe, I wouldna mind," he +added, smiling again at the absurdity of the idea that he should forget +such an eventful engagement. "I am so very glad to see you, Geordie, +and Jean, too. I must say I was a little afraid that you might forget +to come," added Grace, quite in a flutter of delight over the arrival of +her scholars, which they little dreamt of. Then she happened to glance +at Jean, who stood clutching her brother's corduroys in a very +frightened attitude, and Grace remembered that this was also a new +experience for the scholars, and perhaps they, too, might be suffering +from the nervousness which had been following her from the lawn to the +class-room for the last hour as she waited for them.</p> + +<p>Putting out her hand to Jean, she said, in an encouraging tone, "Come, I +dare say you must be tired after your walk in this hot afternoon. We +shall go to a little room that my aunt has given us to sit in, and see +if we cannot find something nice to read and learn," and Grace led the +way up the old steps and across the hall, then through what appeared to +the children quite a bewildering maze of dark passages, so dim and +sombre after the bright sunshine, that Grace overheard Jean say in an, +abrupt whisper, which was instantly smothered by her brother, "I'm +afraid, Geordie; I'm no gain' farther upon this dark road."</p> + +<p>At last the little company reached the room that had been assigned to +them. It was the old still-room, but it had been long in disuse, and +was scarcely less dim than the passages which led to it. The high narrow +window only admitted a few slanting rays of sunlight, that danced on the +white vaulted roof, which was queerly curved and arched by the windings +of a narrow staircase above. It looked, however, none the less an +imposing chamber to Geordie, who instinctively drew off his cap as he +came in from the sunny glare of the fresh spring day to its +semi-darkness.</p> + +<p>Then Jean, who had decided that the best code of manners was to watch +what Geordie did, and follow implicitly, began to pull the strings of +her little bonnet, to remove it from her head. It had been a present +from Mistress Gowrie on New Year's Day, and this was the first occasion +on which Jean had worn it, though it had often been taken from its +resting-place in a red cotton pocket-handkerchief, and viewed with +complacency. To-day, when it came to be-tied, she had to apply to +Geordie, her unfailing help in all extremities; and he in his efforts to +make an imposing bow like the one which decorated Mistress Gowrie's +ample chin, had knotted the strings after the manner of whipcord, so +that they required all Grace's ingenuity to disentangle them.</p> + +<p>Presently, after all these preliminaries were satisfactorily +accomplished, the young teacher seated herself at the table, and began, +to fumble nervously among the books which she had brought to use. There +was a little story-book that Walter and she used to like long ago, in +which she thought would be nice to read to them, and her mother's Bible, +in which she had been searching all the morning for what might be best +to choose as the first lesson, having selected and rejected a great many +parables and incidents both in the New and Old Testaments, and was even +now doubtful what they should begin to read.</p> + +<p>The sight of the books reminded Geordie of his pocket compendium of +knowledge, and coming to the table he laid the dog-eared "Third Primer" +in Grace's hand, saying, "I've been once through, but I'm thinkin' I've +maybe forgot it some. I doubt Jean doesna know one letter from another, +though I've whiles tried to make her understand," added Geordie, rather +ruefully, as he glanced towards the smiling little maiden, who sat quite +unabashed at this account of her ignorance.</p> + +<p>Grace was rather taken aback by the sight of the spelling-book, and also +by Geordie's statement as to the amount of his knowledge, though it was +the same as he had made at their first interview. Grace, however, in her +eagerness, had not understood its full import, so she gasped out in +some dismay, "But you can read the Bible a little, can you not, +Geordie?"</p> + +<p>"Maybe I might, if I tried," replied Geordie, in a hopeful tone. "They +were just goin' to put me into the Bible when I left the school. I have +heard them reading out some of the stories, and I thought they wouldn't +be that difficult to spell out. Maybe if I read in the primer for a +while, ye'll put me into the Bible," he added, evidently having a strong +idea of the necessity for a good foundation of spelling-book lore before +proceeding to use it.</p> + +<p>But Grace thought ruefully of all her high-flown plans for this Sunday +class, and felt that it was a terrible descent to be restricted to the +"Third Primer." But Geordie seemed convinced that through this dog-eared +volume lay the only royal road to learning. He had already opened the +book at one of the little lessons near the end which he seemed to think +he had not sufficiently mastered in the "schoolin' days" already far +away in the distance to the little herd-boy. He still stood by Grace's +side at the table, and his finger travelled slowly along the page as he +read, in the nasal sing-song tone in which the reading functions were +performed at the parish school, one of those meaningless little +paragraphs that are supposed to be best adapted by the compilers of +primers for teaching the young idea how to shoot.</p> + +<p>Grace sat listening, rather perplexed as to what course it would be best +to pursue. This certainly was not the kind of ideal Sunday-class which +she had in her mind all these months; indeed, this "Third Primer" was +hardly orthodox food for Sunday at all, according to her ideas; and yet +Geordie was laboriously travelling over the page with a dogged +earnestness which she did not know how to divert into any other channel +without doing harm in some shape or other. But presently help came to +her from a quarter where she had least expected it.</p> + +<p>Jean, who had been seated on the form unnoticed for several minutes, +listening to Geordie's earnest but uninteresting sing-song, as he stood +at the table leaning over his lesson-book, got tired of her neglected +situation, and descending from her high seat, she planted her sturdy +little legs on the floor, saying, in a decided tone, as she stumped away +towards the door, "Geordie, I'm tired sittin' here. I'm away home." +Jean's words fell like a thunderbolt both on Geordie and Grace. The +blood mounted to the boy's face, and his earnest blue eyes turned +anxiously towards the young teacher, to see what she was thinking of +such an utter breach of good manners on Jean's part.</p> + +<div> <img src="images/055.png" alt="THE FIRST LESSON"> </div> + +<p>Poor Grace felt bitterly conscious of sudden and terrible failure in +this work which she had so longed to undertake. She had not been able to +interest one scholar for a quarter of an hour, and the other seemed only +to have his heart set on learning to spell. "But it is not quite time to +go home yet, Jean," she faltered, as she watched the little girl's +efforts to open the door, since Geordie did not seem inclined to come +to her assistance. "Indeed, we haven't really begun yet," continued +Grace. "Come, Jean, would you not like to stay a little longer and hear +a story from the Bible before you go? Geordie used to like them at +school, he says;" and then, turning to the boy, who stood looking in +grave reproving silence at Jean, she said, "Besides, Geordie, I think, +perhaps, I did not quite explain to you the other day what I thought we +should try to learn on Sunday afternoons when you come here. I shall be +very glad to help you with spelling, too, you know, but I thought I +should like to tell you something about the Lord Jesus Christ our +Saviour, and to read some of his wonderful words which we find in the +New Testament. You have heard of him, have you not, Geordie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, ay, I'm thinkin' I have. But it was in the Auld Testament they were +readin' when I was at the school. I mind there was a right fine story +about a herd-laddie killin' a big giant, that one o' the laddies telt me +once. You've heard it many a time from me, Jean."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, I know that story too," Grace replied, brightening, as if a +glimmer of light had come to her in her perplexity. "And if you will +listen, I can tell you another story—about a Shepherd, too. I'm sure +you would like it, if you would only come back for a little and listen, +Jean," said Grace, eagerly.</p> + +<p>She did not venture to open the Bible, in case the little girl should +think the book would imply another course of spelling, and be roused +into immediate flight. Abandoning all her carefully arranged plans for +teaching which she had been thinking of for so long, she looked into +Geordie's eyes, which were still wandering hungrily towards the +unconquered pages of the primer, and began to tell of the Shepherd who +watched the hundred sheep in a wilderness far away in a very hot +country, where the burning sun dried up the streams and withered the +pasture, and where it was very difficult to find food for either man or +beast. And then she told of how very wise and tender this Shepherd was +with his flock, looking after their wants day and night, and taking very +special care of the silly, play-loving lambs, who did not guess what +terrible dangers they might fall into; for there were wild beasts +prowling about, ready to pounce upon them, and rushing torrents that +came suddenly from the hillsides in rainy seasons, which would have +drowned them in a minute, if the Shepherd's watchful eye had not been +there. He knew all their names, too, though sheep are so wonderfully +like each other."</p> + +<p>"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie. "He must have more wit than Gowrie's +shepherd, then. He has been wi' them for more than a year now, and I +dinna think he knows the one from the other so well as I do."</p> + +<p>Little Jean seemed to have abandoned her design of immediately returning +home, and was gradually edging nearer the table, with her twinkling +black eyes fixed on Grace.</p> + +<p>"But I was going to tell you what happened to one of the little lambs in +spite of the Shepherd's watchful care," Grace continued, feeling +inspirited by the growing interest of her audience.</p> + +<p>"Eh, but I hope none o' the wild beasts ye spoke o' got hold of it," +said Geordie, drawing a long breath.</p> + +<p>"Well, there's no saying what might have happened, but for the Good +Shepherd. For the little lamb got lost—lost among bleak, sandy hills, +where it could find no green blade to eat, and got very hungry and +footsore. It could hear no kind shepherd's voice that it used to love to +listen to in happier days, but only terrible sounds like the bark of +wolves, coming nearer, and lions prowling about when it began to get +dark."</p> + +<p>"Puir lambie!" murmured Jean, whose face now rested on her little fat +hands, while, leaning on the table, she looked up in Grace's face; "it +must surely ha'e been very frightened," she added, in a compassionate +tone; for she knew that she did not like to cross the turf in front of +the cottage, after dark, without Geordie's protecting hand.</p> + +<p>"Yes, it surely must have been frightened enough, for it was certainly +in great danger, and the Shepherd knew what a terrible plight it must be +in, wandering about tired and hungry, far away from the fold. For what +do you think he did?" Grace continued, looking at Geordie; "he actually +left all the other sheep —the ninety-nine, you know—in the wilderness, +and went away to seek for this poor little silly lost lamb."</p> + +<p>"Did he though! He must have been a real fine man," responded Geordie, +warmly. "There's Gowrie's shepherd lost a wee lambie among the hills not +lang syne, and when Gowrie asked him, when he came home, why he didna +look about among the heather for it, he said he couldn't leave the rest, +and that it was a puir sick beastie no' worth much trouble. But it was a +nice wee thing for a' that, and it must have died all alone there, with +nobody to give it a drop of water," said Geordie, regretfully, for he +had a tender heart for all dumb creatures. "I must tell Gowrie's lad +about this Shepaerd the very next time he comes round the hill. But did +he find the lambie?" he asked, turning to Grace.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he found it. He looked for it 'till he found it,' the story says. +After wandering along a road full of danger and painfulness, and +sorrowful sights of the terrible ruin the wild beasts had wrought, he +came upon the little strange lamb, just when its heart was beginning to +faint and fail. The story does not say that he punished it for running +away and giving him so much trouble, or even that he spoke some chiding +words and pushed it along in front of him with his crook, as I have +sometimes seen shepherds on the road do when the sheep get footsore and +weary and unwilling to go on with the journey."</p> + +<p>"Ay do they. They get their licks many a time when they don't deserve +them," chimed in Geordie, in a pathetic tone.</p> + +<p>"Well, but instead of any hard words or beatings, what do you think the +Shepherd did? He took the little lamb into his own weary arms, and it +lay safe and warm there, while he carried it all the way home to the +fold."</p> + +<p>"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie, in warmest admiration. "Eh, but the +lambie must surely have been right fond of the Shepherd after that. I'm +thinkin' he would know his voice better than before, and follow him +right close and canny. That's the kind o' shepherd all beasts would +like, for they know fine when a body cares for them," Geordie said, with +a glowing face, as he looked up at Grace, and the "Third Primer" slipped +unheeded on the floor.</p> + +<p>Was it a mere chance coincidence that this remark of Geordie's came at a +moment when it made more easy of introduction to Grace that part of the +parable story which she was full of eagerness to tell to her first +scholars? She desired that it might prove to them not merely a pleasant +tale, which had beguiled an hour that had threatened to be a very weary +one, to little Jean, at least; but that, through its homely dress, they +might catch a glimpse of its higher meaning, and be able to trace the +footsteps of the Great Shepherd of souls.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Geordie," she continued, "one would certainly imagine that the +sheep would follow such a shepherd very closely, and be very sure that +his way was always best, and that he was leading them by wise safe +paths, even when they seemed thorny and toilsome; but it is not so. I +can tell you of a Shepherd who not only went through many painful dark +desolate places, so that his flock might not stumble and fall when they +came to follow, but ended by laying down his life for his sheep. And yet +these very sheep do not always listen to his voice, nor follow the safe +narrow paths which he has tracked out for them, through the wilderness, +to the happy fold. I think you must both have heard of this Shepherd, +Geordie, and little Jean too."</p> + +<p>"I never knew a shepherd except Gowrie's, and he lost the bonnie lambie +with the black face, that used to lick Geordie's hand," replied little +Jean, with a doleful expression in her usually merry black eyes.</p> + +<p>"Ah, but this Good Shepherd always searches for the lost sheep till he +finds it, and then he carries it in his arms all the journey through to +his beautiful home among the angels, and there is joy among them over +the little found lamb. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ who calls himself +the Good Shepherd, Jean, and who has told us this story about finding +the lost sheep, that we might understand the better how he came to this +world to save us from dark dangerous paths of sin that go down to death. +For we have all strayed as this poor silly lamb did, and some of us are +straying yet," continued Grace; and then, glancing at Geordie's earnest +face, she said, "You have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to +save us from our sins, have you not, Geordie?"</p> + +<p>"I have heard tell o' him. But I didna just think he was so real-like as +a shepherd with his sheep, or that he would have ta'en that trouble for +<i>one</i>," Geordie replied, with a dreamy look in his eyes; but he did not +say more.</p> + +<p>Just then Margery knocked at the door, and intimated that the hour was +expired, and little Jean again began to show some signs of restlessness, +so Grace felt regretfully that the first afternoon had come to an end, +and she had not followed any part of the programme which she had +previously marked out. There was the hymn-book, with a tune all ready +to sing to one of the hymns, which Grace had practised painstakingly on +the piano the day before. But now she found that neither Jean nor +Geordie could sing, so she thought it might be wise to select something +simpler than she had chosen before, and ended by singing her oldest +childish favourite, "The Happy Land." It was evidently new to the +children; for their poor old deaf granny's was not a musical home. +Geordie's eyes dilated with delight as he listened, and he kept giving +Jean a series of nods across the table, in case she should by any chance +miss the full enjoyment of such beautiful sounds.</p> + +<p>A second knock from Margery, this time carrying a plateful of +currant-cake which Miss Hume had sent to the children, fairly broke up +the little gathering. Grace felt with disappointment that this first +class had come sadly short of her ideal, was a complete failure, in +fact, when she remembered all that she had meant to say and do, and all +the hoped-for responses on the part of the scholars.</p> + +<p>In thinking of this afternoon long afterwards, when it lay in the clear +rounded distance of the past, Grace used to smile as she remembered her +restless impatience, and compare herself to the little girl who was +always pulling up by the roots the flowers she had planted in her +garden, to see how they were getting on.</p> + +<p>When they prepared to leave the little still room, Grace handed Geordie +his precious "Third Primer," which she found lying on the floor, and as +he put it into his jacket pocket, he said with a smile, "I won't bring +it back with me, I'm thinkin'. Ye'll maybe tell us some more about the +Good Shepherd next time, and I can hold at the spellin' when I'm +herdin', and maybe I'll soon be able to get into the Bible itself," he +added, still firm in his belief that the only entrance lay through the +spelling-book.</p> + +<p>Grace, remembering little Jean's dislike to the exit through the dark +passages, led the way to a door which opened into a path to the garden. +Jean manifested undisguised satisfaction when the dim still-room +precincts were fairly left behind, and they got into the pleasant old +walled-in garden, where the yellow afternoon's sun was lying on the +opening fruit-blossom, and bringing delicious scents out of the +newly-blown lilac and hawthorn. She kept pulling Geordie's corduroys, to +draw his attention to all that captivated her as they walked along the +broad gravel walk. This was certainly a much pleasanter way home than +along the dim passage, and Jean decided that the best part of the +afternoon had come last. Presently Grace opened the door of one of the +greenhouses, and they stood among richer colours and sweeter scents than +before. The children had been surveying with admiring wonder the +dazzling house glittering in the sun, which was making each pane sparkle +like a diamond, but they never dreamt that it would be given to them to +enter it, or indeed that it had an interior which could be reached, so +entirely did it seem to belong to the region of the sun, not to the +world of thatched cottages and grey walls.</p> + +<p>"Eh, but surely this will be something like the happy land you were +singin' aboot," Geordie said at last, with a long-drawn breath, after he +had wandered about in silence for some time, revelling in the exotic +delights of the first greenhouse he had ever seen.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, Geordie; there will be all this, and a great deal more; things +so beautiful and, glorious that our poor minds can't even imagine what +they will be like," said Grace, glowingly, feeling a thrill of pleasure +to hear that the hymn had any meaning for the boy, so desponding was she +concerning her efforts. "Look here, I'll just read to you about the +pleasant place where the Good Shepherd leads his flock, after their +journey on earth is over." And leaning against an old orange-tree, +Grace read to her little scholars about that wonderful multitude "which +came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made +them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the +throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that +sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, +neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any +heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, +and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe +away all tears from their eyes." They stood quite still for a few +moments after Grace had finished reading, each thinking some new +thoughts.</p> + +<p>In the mind of little Jean, to be sure, there certainly prevailed some +confusion of ideas between the happy land of which she had been hearing, +and the beautiful garden in which she stood. Indeed, to the end of her +life, the yellow glitter of the sun on the Kirklands greenhouses brought +to her mind the description of that "city of pure gold, as it were +transparent glass;" and the tall tropical plants which were ranged round +the shining floor were to her the embodiments of the trees whose leaves +were for the "healing of the nations."</p> + +<p>But Geordie's thoughts were most about that Shepherd Saviour who seemed +to be able to lead his flock away from bleak, scorching places to such a +blessed land as these words told of.</p> + +<p>In spite of old Adam's approaching shadow on the gravel walk, Grace +plucked a few of the rare, beautiful roses and gave them to little Jean, +whose small fat hands were eagerly stretched out to receive the prize. +They spent the remainder of their flourishing existence in a broken +yellow jug on the window-sill of Granny Baxter's cottage, and were a joy +to Jean for many days. And when it was the fate of their companions +still left in their stately glass home to be gathered into Adam's barrow +when their charms had past, and ignominiously flung away, Jean's roses +had a more honourable future. After they had done their duty faithfully +on the window-sill, the dead leaves were tenderly gathered and scattered +in the drawers allotted to Jean in the ancient chest, where they made a +sweet scent in their embalmment for many a day.</p> + +<p>The little party arrived at last at the farther end of the garden, where +there was a door in the high, red wall opening on a path which led to +the turnpike-road. Grace turned the rusty key, and the children saw the +familiar face of their native valley again. Giving a lingering backward +glance into the pleasant garden which they had just left, they trotted +away towards the dusty high-road, while Grace stood watching them till +they were out of sight.</p> + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/070.png" alt="End of Chapter III"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_IV"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/071.png" alt="Chapter IV"> </div> + +<h3>ELSIE GRAY</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/i.png" alt="I"> +<p>ll tell you what it is, Grace; that scholar of yours is far too fine +a fellow to be left to tie companionship of old Gowrie's cattle any +longer."</p> + +<p>The speaker was a bright, breezy-looking lad in midshipman's dress, who +was sauntering up and down the old terrace at Kirklands, in company with +our friend Grace. She is a year older than when we saw her last at the +garden-gate, parting with her two scholars after their first Sunday +together. They have had a great many afternoons in company since then. +Grace had remained in her summer home all through the long Scotch +winter, and now autumn had come, bringing with it her brother Walter on +a delightful holiday of six weeks, after an absence of years.</p> + +<p>Miss Hume had got so frail the previous year, that she was unfit for the +return journey to her house in Edinburgh, and the following months had +only brought an increase of weakness. She now lay in her darkened room, +with, her flickering lamp of life burning slowly to. its socket, while +some young lives beside her were being kindled by glowing fires which +would cause their hearts to burn long after the "glow of early thought +declines in feeling's dull decay."</p> + +<p>The little company in the still-room had somewhat increased, four others +haying been added to the two first scholars. One of them was Elsie Gray, +the forester's daughter, a pretty little girl with a sweet voice, and +able to sing a great many hymns, so that Grace had no longer to perform +solos to the still-room audience, but was accompanied by more than one +voice timidly following Elsie's example, and joining in the singing. +There were three other scholars from the borders of the next parish, and +a very happy party they all made together. But it must be confessed that +the warmest place in Grace's heart was reserved for the first scholar +whom she had found that chilly spring day among the pasture lands which +sloped down to the little stream. Judged by an educational standard, +Geordie was certainly, with the exception of the little Jean, the most +deficient of the company, in spite of his having manfully conquered the +last pages of the "Third Primer," and got at last "intil the Bible." +The other boys and girls still attended the parish school on week days, +and seemed more or less very fairly in possession of the rudiments of +education. Some things, however, which they read and heard in the little +quiet room at Kirklands sank into their hearts as they had never done +when they read them as the stereotyped portion of the Bible-reading +lesson amid the mingled jangle of slates and pencils and pattering feet, +with the hum of rough northern tongues, which prevailed in the parish +school-room.</p> + +<p>To Geordie even this discordant medium of education had been denied. +Grace had set her heart on having him sent to school during the past +winter. She saw what a precious boon such an opportunity appeared in +Geordie's eyes when she suggested it to him. But Farmer Gowrie had to be +consulted, and finding the herd-boy useful in winter as well as during +the summer months, he decided that he could not possibly spare Geordie. +And as for Granny Baxter, she could not understand what anybody could +want with more learning who was, able to earn money. So Geordie had one +day lingered behind the other scholars to tell Grace that the idea of +going to school even during the winter quarter must be given up. There +was always a manly reticence about the boy which made one feel that +words of sympathy would be patronising; but Grace could see what a +bitter disappointment it was, though he appeared quite unalterable in +his decision that he "belonged to Gowrie," when Grace tried to arrange +the matter by an interview with the farmer. He could only claim the boy +week by week, and the young teacher did not see the necessity for such +self-denial on Geordie's part.</p> + +<p>Then Grace's store of pocket-money had been devoted to sending little +Jean to school. This arrangement had been a source of great delight to +Geordie—much more of an event to him, indeed, than to the phlegmatic +little Jean, to whom the primer did not contain such precious +possibilities as it did to her brother's eyes. Grace had arranged that +she should go to a girls' school lately opened in the parish. It was the +one to which Elsie Gray, the forester's daughter, went. On her way to +school she had to pass Granny Baxter's cottage, and after Jean was +installed as her fellow-scholar, Elsie used generally to call and see if +the little girl was ready to start, so that they might walk along the +road together.</p> + +<p>Elsie was a pale, fragile-looking girl, who looked as if she had grown +among crowded streets, rather than blossomed in the open valley, with +its flowing river and breezy hillsides. She was a very silent child, +too, with a meek grace about all her movements; her large grey eyes +shone out of her face with a luminous, dreamy light in them, which +distressed her practical, rosy-faced mother, who used to say that she +did not know where Elsie had come by "those ghaist-like eyes o' hers," +and as for those washed-out cheeks, "there was no accountin' for them +neither;" and the worthy matron would go on to narrate with what +abundance and amplitude Elsie had been ministered to all her life; and +yet Elsie glided about still and pale, with her large eyes shining like +precious stones, generally hungrily possessed by some book which she +held in her hand. She had an insatiable appetite for reading, and had +long ago exhausted the juvenile library attached to the church, while +the few books which comprised the forester's collection had been read +and re-read by her many times. The farmer librarian, who remained half +an hour after the congregation was dismissed on Sundays to dispense +books for any that might wish them, in the room behind the church, had +been obliged to give Elsie entrance to the shelves reserved for older +people, after she had exhausted the youthful library. It is not to be +supposed, however, that by this admission Elsie was allowed to plunge +chartless into light literature. The shelves contained only books of the +most sober kind, the lightest admixture being narratives of the +persecutions of the Waldenses and stories of the Covenanting struggles. +These Elsie read and pondered with intense interest, interweaving the +scenes in her imagination with the familiar places and people round her, +and living a far-away dreamy life of her own in the forester's cozy +little nest, while her active-minded, busy-fingered mother made her +cheese and butter, and reared her poultry, and was withal so very +capable of performing her own duties, that the forester sometimes +ventured to think, when Mrs. Gray complained of Elsie's "handlessness," +that seeing the mistress was so well able for "her own turn," it was +fortunate his little daughter chanced to be of a more contemplative +disposition.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Gray had heard from Margery of the Sunday class which her young +mistress had opened at Kirklands, and though, as the forester's wife +remarked, "Elsie had enough and to spare of schoolin' already," yet it +would only be a suitable mark of respect to the lady of Kirklands to +send her there on Sunday afternoons; and so it happened that Elsie +became one of Grace's scholars, sitting in the little still-room on +Sunday afternoons, her large tender eyes answering in sympathetic +flashes as the young teacher talked with the little company of those +wonderful days when the Son o Man lived upon the earth, or told them +some story of the earlier times of the world, when God's voice was heard +in the beautiful garden in the cool of the day, or when he guided his +chosen people by signs and wonders.</p> + +<p>In those days, however, the gospel tidings were not more to Elsie than +many another pathetic story which she knew, and served simply as food +for her imagination, though Grace's earnest words did throw a halo round +the familiar incidents which the daily reading of a chapter in the New +Testament had failed to do. Yet it was not till some of the sharp +sorrows of life had fallen upon Elsie that those words which she heard +in the still-room came with living power to her heart, and became to her +a light in dark days, a joy in sorrowful times, which nothing was able +to take away from her.</p> + +<p>And this was the little girl who used to knock gently at the door of +Granny Baxter's cottage every morning as she passed along the road to +school, arrayed in her pretty grey stuff frock, and with her snowy linen +tippet and sun-bonnet. Sometimes she found little Jean's round smiling +face peering against the peat-stack at the end of the cottage awaiting +her coming, for a great friendship had sprung up between these two, +though they were certainly very different in character. Elsie seemed to +have a brooding protective care over the little unkempt Jean, exercising +a sort of guardianship of her in the new life at school. She would often +come to her rescue when Jean sat pouting over a blurred slate, en which +she was helplessly trying to reproduce the figures on the blackboard, or +give her timely aid amid the involvements of some question in the +Shorter Catechism. It was Elsie who tied the bonnet-strings now, with +more dexterous fingers than Geordie's, and performed many similar kindly +offices besides; and little Jean was already learning from the +forester's daughter many habits of tidiness which her poor, failing +grandmother had not been capable of teaching her.</p> + +<p>Sometimes, on their way from school, the girls would find Geordie +perched on the paling of one of Gowrie's fields, while the cattle grazed +within the fences, watching for their coming to enliven a lonely hour +with their talk and news of school doings. His eye used to glisten with +pride and pleasure as he watched the little Jean appear, carrying her +books and slate, and already bearing many traces of civilising +influences. And it is not to be wondered at if his eye rested with +admiration sometimes on the sweet maiden, who was generally her +companion, and that he learnt to watch eagerly for the first glimpse of +the snowy sun-bonnet along the winding green lane which led from the +girls' school to the high road. Sometimes Elsie used to bring one of her +favourite books in her plaited-cord school-bag, and then the trio would +sit in a shady corner, where Geordie's vigilant eye could still keep +watch over his charge, while the little girl introduced her friends to +some of the favourite scenes of her ideal world. Elsie seemed to +understand, though she had never been told it in so many words, all +about Geordie's intense desire for knowledge, and to appreciate his +self-denial in remaining in his present post. And so it happened there +grew up in her mind a tender sympathy for all that he had missed, side +by side with an admiring belief in his character.</p> + +<p>How many thoughts and ideas he surely must have, she used to think, +after one of those meetings, when she took her solitary way home, after +parting with Jean, and remembered Geordie's remarks, which seemed to +throw new light on her favourite histories, and to touch with insight +all that was most beautiful and true in them. Often Elsie used to +delight the unvocal brother and sister by singing one of her hymns, +which for days afterwards would echo in some "odd corner" of the lonely +little herd-boy's brain. Sometimes, too, they discussed what they had +been hearing on the previous Sunday at Kirklands; and Elsie always felt +more interested in the lesson after hearing Geordie's gentle, reverent +talk. And to Elsie, who had neither brother nor sister, there was an +infinite charm in Geordie's devotion to his sister Jean, and his +unwearied anxiety for her happiness. She noticed, too, the tender, +chivalrous care with which he ministered to his old grandmother, never +wearying of her selfish, querulous ways, and sacrificing himself to her +smallest wishes.</p> + +<p>So it happened that a warm friendship sprang up between those three who +sat side by side in Grace Campbell's little school-room; and their daily +lives had become pleasantly interwoven during these past months. To +Jean, Elsie appeared the embodiment of all that was worthy of imitation, +from her snowy sun-bonnet to her gentle voice, both seeming equally +unattainable to the little girl. When Geordie returned to the village on +Saturday night, he used generally to hear from Jean some glowing +narrative in Elsie's praise, to which Geordie's ears were quite wide +open, though he sat bending over his books in the "ingle neuk" of the +cottage kitchen.</p> + +<p>When her idea of a winter at school had to be abandoned, Grace gave him +a few helpful class-books, and tried to direct his efforts to learn as +much as was possible; but, during the past year, her aunt's increasing +weakness and dependence on her companionship made it impossible for +Grace to give the boy such practical help as she would fain have done. +But Geordie had been fighting his own battle manfully, and had made more +progress than Grace guessed.</p> + +<p>Walter had first been telling her as they walked on the terrace +together, that the day before he had found Geordie busy with a geography +book as he tended his cattle, and how pleased he had been to hear about +the new lands Walter had seen. Like Elsie, Walter felt that, in +Geordie's mind, things seemed to gather a richness and an interest with +which his own impressions had not clothed them.</p> + +<p>"You've no idea how many queer questions the fellow asked me about +everything," continued Walter. "Indeed, Grace, I couldn't help thinking +how much more good Geordie would have got out of all the things and +places I've seen since I went away, than I have. And yet he's much too +clever for a sailor's life. What can we do with him, Grace? I really +can't bear to think of his drudging on as a farm servant to old Gowrie, +though he seems quite contented with the prospect," and Walter turned to +Grace, who glanced at her brother's kindly face with pleasure, though +not unmixed with surprise, that he should take such an interest in her +Sunday-scholar.</p> + +<p>Walter seemed to look on Grace's class rather in a humorous light when +he first heard of its existence on his return to Kirklands. And +presently he had begun to grudge that she should devote herself to it, +and thus deprive him of the pleasure of her society during the long +Sunday afternoons, when they used to be together in the old days. And, +in the midst of all her joy in having her brother with her again, Grace +had been feeling with sadness that there was as yet no response in +Walter's heart to those unseen, eternal things, which, in her efforts to +share them with the little company on Sunday, had become increasingly +vivid to her own mind. He used occasionally to rally her on her new +fancies, which he seemed to think quite harmless and suitable for a +girl, provided they did not cross his plans and fancies.</p> + +<p>One day, when he was on his way to fish, he had happened to meet +Geordie, who was herding his cattle near the stepping-stones. Geordie +was a clever angler, and could wile more trout out of the river than +most people, and Walter had been delighted with his information as to +the fishing capabilities of the Kirklands river. Since that day they had +always been friends when they chanced to meet. Walter could never see +the sun-bleached locks gleaming in the distance without crossing +whatever gate or field happened to lie between, and going to have a talk +with him; so the boys had seen much more of each other than Grace knew. +She had often been obliged to leave "Walter to solitary rambles, owing +to her aunt's, increasing dependence on her during her long illness, so +it happened that she felt some surprise when she saw Walter more moved +than was his wont as he eagerly discussed plans for helping Geordie.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what it is, Gracie," said Walter, in his blunt way, as +his quick eye detected Grace's slight surprise that he should have so +warmly espoused the cause of her Sunday-scholar. "You know I have seen +Geordie a good deal lately. We have had a lot of fishing talk, and all +that, and I like the chap—he's a first-rate fellow. I can't bear to +see a fellow so much better than myself trudging away behind those +beasts of Gowrie's day after day. And, besides, Grace, the fact is I owe +him something more than anything I may be able to do for him can ever +repay. It isn't every fellow, I can tell you, who would have had the +courage to say to me what he did," stammered Walter.</p> + +<p>"What did he say, Walter?" asked Grace, more astonished than ever. "I +thought you hardly knew more of Geordie Baxter than his name. You know +he is my favourite scholar. But it is a long time since I have had a +quiet talk with him. I well remember the first conversation we had, +standing on the stepping-stones near that bend of the river where the +birches grow."</p> + +<p>"Ah, yes, I know the place. It's curious, it was just about that very +spot I was going to tell you. I met him there, one day, not long ago, +and he happened to say that he had been asking Gowrie to stop sending +the cattle to that bit of pasture, because the stepping-stones made it a +thoroughfare, and that bull had been getting more savage lately, and he +could not always persuade people that it was dangerous to pass near him; +but Gowrie had said it was nonsense, and so forth. Well, you see, I'm +not very fond of old Gowrie, and when I saw how meekly Geordie submitted +to him, I felt provoked, and began to speak a little strongly, as we +middies sometimes do—swore, in fact. And if Geordie didn't make me feel +more ashamed of myself than ever I did in my life. You've tried your +hand on me before now, Gracie, and I'm sure you'll be glad to +hear—well, that I'm going to try to lead a very different life now." +Walter's voice faltered, and Grace looked at him with glistening eyes.</p> + +<p>After a few moments' silence, she said, "But Walter, dear, you haven't +told me yet what Geordie said."</p> + +<p>"Well, Grace, I hardly think I should like to tell you all he said. But +he came, and laying his hand on my shoulder, looked at me with those +earnest eyes of his. 'You've been very kind to me, Maister Campbell,' he +began, 'and it would be ill-done no to min' ye that ye are giving a sore +heart to your best Friend ye have by takin' his dear name in vain,' and +then he said a little more about it. I was so taken aback, Grace, I +could hardly believe my own ears. It must have required a lot of +downright courage to speak like that; there isn't a mid in all our crew +who would have ventured to do so. And yet I dare say I'm in for +something of the same kind when I go back again to the ship. For you +know I must be a 'good soldier,' Grace," added Walter, with a gentle, +fearless look in his eyes that carried Grace's thoughts back to an early +scene, when she stood in the crowded street in her nurse's hand, and +watched her father's face as he rode alongside his men to his last +battle. And as she looked at Walter's face, she remembered some old +words which say, "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that +taketh a city;" and she lifted up her heart, and gave God thanks that +this young spirit, so dear and precious to her, had taken him for his +Leader and Lord.</p> + + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/086.png" alt="End of Chapter IV"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_V"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/087.png" alt="Chapter V"> </div> + +<h3>HOW GEORDIE'S HERDING CAME TO AN END.</h3> +<br> + +<p> + <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/it.png" alt="It"> +was a lovely autumn evening. The valley of Kirklands lay flooded in +the sunset glow. Its yellowing fields were tinged with warm-crimson and +purple, and the golden light shimmered on the trees and fringed the dark +fir tops. Never had her home looked more beautiful, Grace thought, when, +at last, the brother and sister turned to go indoors, after their +earnest talk. She stood leaning on the old carved railing of the steps, +taking one more glance at the peaceful scene before she followed Walter +into the darkening entrance-hall, when her eye caught sight of a stumpy +figure which she thought she recognised.</p> + +<p>It was little Jean Baxter, who hurried along the elm avenue as fast as +her short legs could carry her. She looked breathless and excited, and +when she came nearer Grace saw that she was tearful and dishevelled. She +hastened down the steps to meet her, wondering what childish grief +could be agitating the mind of the usually imperturbable little Jean. +When she caught eight of Grace, she threw up her arms with a loud, +bitter wail that rang among the old elms, echoing through their arching +branches, and startling the birds that had just gone to roost. "Oh, Miss +Cam'ell! Geordie, Geordie!--he's hurt; he's dyin'; Blackie's gotten hold +o' him."</p> + +<p>It was vain to ask anything more. Jean could only repeat her wailing +refrain, so taking the child's hand, Grace quietly asked her to lead the +way to where Geordie was, trying to quiet her bitter weeping by such +soothing words as she could muster in the midst of her own distress at +the possibility of any serious accident having happened to her favourite +scholar. But poor little Jean's sad monotone still rang mournfully +through the soft evening air as she trotted along by Grace's +side—"Geordie's dyin'; Blackie's got hold o' him."</p> + +<p>Grace, however, managed to learn from a few incoherent words that the +boy was lying, in whatever state he might be, at the river side, near +the stepping-stones. He had, that afternoon, taken the cattle, along +with the dangerous bull, to the heathery knolls, where Gowrie's careful +soul grudged that any morsel of pasture should remain unused. Geordie +had always been most careful in warning unwary passers-by of their +danger, for, though fearless enough himself, he still held that Blackie +was the "ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," and never felt +easy in his mind except when he had him within the fences of the upland +fields. He had once or twice tried to tether the animal near one of the +hillocks, but he saw that it made his temper more dangerous than ever; +besides, the little patches of green pasture were so scattered through +the heather, and had carefully to be scented out by discriminating +noses, that to have fettered poor Blackie to one spot seemed to him a +crying injustice, uneasy as he felt at his being able to roam at large +so near a thoroughfare. Geordie had never even allowed himself the +luxury of Jean's company when there were no fences to put between +Blackie and her.</p> + +<p>But that day the harvest holidays had been given at the girls' school. +There had been prizes distributed and an examination held which lasted +till evening. Elsie Gray had got several trophies of her diligence, but +the great and unexpected event of the day was that little Jean had +actually got a prize. She was nearly beside herself with ecstasy as she +clutched the gay crimson and gilt volume which was presented to her, +and resented that it should even for a moment be absent from her arms to +be admired by her companions. Then Geordie must hear about this +unexpected honour, must see and touch the treasure at once; and Jean +galloped off with the precious volume to the field where he was +generally to be found perched on the paling, awaiting their coming. +Elsie Gray followed, eager enough, too, to show her honours to the +boy-friend, whose golden opinions she dearly loved to win. There was a +pink flush on her usually pale cheek, as she glanced about in search of +Geordie when they reached the field, panting and breathless after their +race. But no Geordie was visible anywhere, and the field was quite empty +and tenantless. Then Jean remembered, what she had forgotten in her +excitement, that Geordie was to be herding at the hillocks to-day, and +so she started off to find him, forgetful that his present post was +forbidden ground.</p> + +<p>The girls were not long in reaching the stepping-stones, and presently +Jean was at Geordie's side, dancing round him with wild cries of +delight, as she flourished her gay prize in his rather bewildered eyes. +He had been lying with his face resting on his hands, on one of the soft +knolls of turf, looking at the sunset, and thinking of the new lands of +which he had lately been hearing from Walter Campbell. He seemed so +possessed by his own thoughts and reveries that he heard no sound of +coming footsteps till he looked up suddenly, and saw little Jean by his +side. He jumped up from the turf, and began to look wistfully towards +the river side to see if there was nobody else besides Jean coming to +enliven a lonely hour.</p> + +<p>Elsie had crossed the stepping-stones, and was moving towards the +hillock on which he stood, with her sun-bonnet in one hand, and her +heavy armful of shining prize books in the other with the golden sun's +rays falling on her. Her dusky hair was hanging rather more loosely than +usual, shaken out of its general smoothness by her hot face. The pale +face was all aglow with pleasure, and her large eyes looked radiant with +delight at the thoughts of the pleasure that little Jean's success, as +well as her own, would give to Geordie. The boy stood with his flaxen +hair all gilded by the sun, looking at her with a glad light in his blue +eyes. For a moment only, and then, with a look of terror, he glanced in +the opposite direction, remembering that this was dangerous ground. +Blackie had been roused from his sleepy grazing by little Jean's cry of +delight, and, looking up, his evil eye caught sight of Elsie, with her +bright colours, made more dazzling by the sunset tints. With a toss of +his head, and a few wild plunges, the brute, with his head near to the +ground, and his eyes fixed on his prey, made his way towards her. +Geordie shouted, "Back, Elsie; back on the stepping-stones!" but it was +too late.</p> + +<p>Elsie lost her presence of mind, and wavered backward and forward for a +moment, till it was impossible to save herself by taking refuge on the +other side of the stream, where Blackie, not knowing the advantage of +stepping-stones, would probably not have troubled himself to follow her. +In an instant Geordie had flung himself between the roused animal and +Elsie. His stick still lay on the hillock, where he had been resting, so +he had no weapon of defence, and Blackie, in his rage, would not spare +the faithful lad, who had spent so many lonely hours by his side. In +another moment, Geordie was lying gored and senseless on the heather.</p> + +<p>Elsie had reached the stepping-stones, and stood there transfixed like a +marble statue. Blackie might follow her now if he had a mind to, but he +had not. After a glance at Geordie, he plunged away with his heels in +the air through the heather, having an uneasy consciousness that he had +lost his temper, and treated a good friend rather roughly.</p> + +<p>As for little Jean, she had fortunately happened to be beyond Blackie's +range of observation; for it was on Elsie that his sole gaze had been +fixed, and he only vented his baulked fury on Geordie when the vision of +bright colours slipped away. Gowrie's ploughman happened to be passing +near, and had been a witness of the scene, though it was impossible for +him to give timely help. Elsie Gray, he noticed, was now safe on the +stepping-stones, and Geordie lying on the heather, with all the mischief +done to him that Blackie was likely to do. But the enraged animal might +attack somebody else presently, and the man thought the best service he +could render was to secure Blackie against doing further injury. Never +did repentant criminal receive handcuffs with more submission than the +guilt-stricken Blackie the badge of punishment. There was a subdued +pathetic look of almost human remorse and woe in the eye of the brute, +as he was led past the place where Geordie lay low among the heather. +The hands that had so often fed him and made a clean soft bed for him at +night, often stroking his great knotted neck, and never raised in unjust +punishment, lying helpless and shattered now, and the fair locks hung +across his face, all dabbled with blood. Elsie was now kneeling by his +side, but he was quite unconscious of her presence, and heedless of her +low wailing, as she looked wildly round to see if nobody was coming to +help Geordie, who had helped her so bravely. Little Jean had hurried +shrieking to the farm, with the news of the accident, and Mistress +Gowrie presently appeared, to Elsie's intense relief. She was a kindly +woman, and felt conscience-stricken as she kneeled beside the little +herd-boy; for she knew that it was not with his will that Blackie roamed +at large among those knolls. She had happened to hear his last +expostulation with her husband on the point; and this was how it had +ended. But she did not think he was dead. Elsie could hardly restrain a +cry of delight when she heard the whispered word that he lived still. +How joyfully she carried water in her sun-bonnet from the flowing river, +how tenderly she sprinkled it on his face and hands, and wiped the +bloodstained locks.</p> + +<p>And then old Farmer Gowrie came and stood with his hands behind his +back, and a shadow on his furrowed face, as he gazed on his young +servant with an uneasy stare. He kept restlessly moving backwards and +forwards to see whether the still motionless figure showed any sign of +life, till his wife reminded him that Granny Baxter was probably +ignorant of the terrible accident which had happened to her grandson, +and asked him to go and break the news to her. Little Jean had been +there before him, however; and Gowrie found the old woman crawling +helplessly along in the direction of the knolls, quite stupefied by the +terrible tidings that Jean had managed to convey to her deaf ears. The +little girl seemed possessed with the idea that Miss Campbell would be +sure to be able to help Geordie in this extremity; and so she left her +old granny to find her way alone, and had hurried away in the direction +of Kirklands to tell her sorrowful tale, meeting Grace, as we know, in +the elm avenue, after her eventful talk with her brother.</p> + +<p>They were already half-way to the stepping-stones, when Grace +remembered—feeling it unaccountable that, even in her anxiety, she +should have forgotten for an instant—that Walter must know what had +happened to Geordie—Geordie, to whom he owed so much. She felt that she +could not leave the little weeping girl to go on her way alone; but just +as she was standing hesitating what it might be best to do, she met one +of the dwellers in the valley, who promised to go at once and convey a +message to her brother, and then she and Jean hurried on towards the +fatal pasture lands. Before they crossed the stepping-stones which led +to the knolls, Grace could see a little group bending over a spot in the +heather; but no sound reached them through the calm evening air, except +the rippling of the sunset-tinted river, which rolled between. And so +Geordie was lying there gored, maimed, perhaps dying, as Jean persisted +in saying. Grace felt her heart sink with fear, lest the sorrowful +refrain should be true, as she crept silently near to the place where +the little company was gathered. But Geordie was not dead.</p> + +<p>"Here comes Miss Campbell," somebody said, and then the circle opened +up, and Grace caught a glimpse of her scholar lying very quietly among +the heather with his blue eye turned gladly to welcome his friend.</p> + +<p>"It was only a faint, after all,—and some bruises that will soon heal," +Mistress Gowrie said, in a tone of relieved anxiety, as she rose from +the turf where she had been kneeling to make way for Grace, who felt an +intense relief as she bent smilingly over him, and talked gently of the +danger past, with her heart full of thankfulness.</p> + +<p>When little Jean saw the happy aspect of matters, her grief gave place +to the wildest ecstasy of delight. Throwing herself down beside her +brother, she shouted gleefully, "Oh, Geordie, Geordie, ye're no dyin' +after all, ye're all right. I'll never greet again all the days o' my +life," was the rash promise which she made in her joy, remembering +Geordie's dislike to tears. Presently her thoughts reverted to her +treasure, which, in her grief, had been forgotten. It had been dropped +on the knoll when the accident happened, and Jean now bounded off +gleefully in search of it.</p> + +<p>A doctor had been sent for soon after the accident, but Geordie seemed +so well that old Gowrie already began to regret that they had been in +such haste in sending to fetch him. Presently Mistress Gowrie left the +knolls and returned to her usual evening duties, which she felt were put +sadly in arrear owing to this outbreak of Blackie's, and feeling truly +thankful that it had ended so fortunately. She invited old Granny Baxter +to have a cup of tea with her at the farm, which was a very great mark +of graciousness on the part of "the mistress," and extremely gratifying +to the old woman, to whom attentions of the kind came rarely.</p> + +<p>It had been arranged, also, by the farmer's wife that Geordie should be +moved into the "best bedroom" before the doctor came, and Granny +Baxter was filled with pride when she was shown the woodruff-scented +chamber, with its dark shining floor, and among other impressive +decorations from the farmyard, a waving canopy of peacock feathers above +the ancient chimney-piece, where Geordie was to sleep among snowy sheets +that night. But each time that they proposed he should be carried there +from his rough bed among the heather, Geordie pled rather wistfully, +"Just wait a wee while. I'm right comfortable here among the heather," +and once he added with a sad smile as he glanced at the farmer's wife, +"But I'll no be able to supper the beasts the night, Mistress Gowrie. +Maybe Sandy will look to them. Puir Blackie! give him a good supper; he +didn't mean any ill."</p> + +<p>Only Elsie Gray, of all the original group, still sat near Geordie, +where she could watch every movement, though she could not be seen by +him. She kept gazing at him with unutterable anguish in her eyes, and +only she detected the sharp spasms that occasionally crossed his face, +and felt his frame quiver with pain which he tried to conceal.</p> + +<p>"Miss Campbell," she whispered to Grace who was seated near her, "he's +very sore hurt, I'm sure of it. Oh, will the doctor no come soon!" and +when Grace looked into Geordie's face she began to share Elsie's fears.</p> + +<p>Presently Jean came bounding back in delight with her recovered treasure +to lay it in Geordie's hands. He looked at the gaily-bound book with his +most pleased smile, and then glancing at Jean proudly, he said, "Eh, +Jean, but ye'll be learnin' to be a grand scholar. I'm right glad ye +have got to the school."</p> + +<p>Then the eager little girl must needs have the book in her own hands +again, to search among the leaves for the illustrations which were +interspersed, so that Geordie might be introduced to all the beauties of +this wonderful volume. Geordie kept looking at her as she turned the +leaves with a somewhat pitiful gaze, and presently he said in a low +tone, "Jean, come a little nearer. I want to speak to ye, Jeanie. Do ye +ken I'm maybe goin' til the grand school the good Maister keeps waitin' +for us in the heavenly land? And I'll be learnin' a deal o' things there +that we canna learn down here," he added, with a smile; and then he +paused.</p> + +<p>Jean looked up from her boot with bewildered eyes as she listened to +Geordie's words; a grave expression came into her face, but the shadow +was only caused by her not understanding what he meant, for she knew +that Geordie occasionally went beyond her depth.</p> + +<p>"I'll no ever herd Gowrie's cows again, Jean, or wait at the fences for +Elsie and you. I'm dyin' Jeanie," he added in a hoarse whisper, as he +gazed sorrowfully at the little girl.</p> + +<p>There was no mistaking the meaning of these words, and little Jean, +dropping her precious book, burst into loud sobbing, as she flung +herself on Geordie.</p> + +<p>Grace had been watching the boy with a sinking heart, and a great fear +began to take possession of her that what he said might be true, as a +terrible spasm of agony crossed his face, and a groan of pain escaped +him. She looked anxiously to see if there was any sign of the doctor +coming, and taking little Jean aside, she told her that if she loved +Geordie she must be brave and quiet, even though he was so very ill, as +he seemed to think. Then she tried to speak some soothing words of +comfort, but little Jean wailed out with a fresh burst of sorrow:</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, why didn't God keep him from Blackie, if he loves him +as ye say? Ye mind how ye read to us in the Bible about him saving the +herd-laddie out o' the jaws o' the bear; oh, but, I think, he might +have taken care of our Geordie;" and poor little Jean would not be +comforted.</p> + +<p>"Where's granny?" Geordie had whispered, and Elsie rose from her post at +Geordie's head and flitted away like a little noiseless ghost to find +the old woman. She met her at the farm, where, having finished her cup +of tea, she was being shown some of Mistress Gowrie's feathered +favourites in the farmyard.</p> + +<p>"Mistress Gowrie, he's not better, as ye think; he says he's dyin', and +wants to see granny," Elsie said, with quivering lips, as she reached +them.</p> + +<p>"Dying, child, nonsense! what do you mean?" said the farmer's wife, +looking at Elsie to see if she was not dreaming. But Elsie looked +terribly wide-awake and sorrow-stricken, and Mistress Gowrie went off in +search of her husband.</p> + +<p>Then Granny Baxter began to perceive that there was something wrong, and +presently Elsie succeeded in making her understand, and began to guide +her slow steps to where her grandson still lay. Oh, how slow they were, +Elsie thought, as she glanced along the straight field path still to be +crossed before they reached the knolls, and thought of what might be +going on there. But had not Geordie wanted to see his grandmother, and +surely she might endure for him who had done so much for her? So the +little girl kept close by the old woman's side, who leant her wrinkled +hand on Elsie's shoulder, while, with the help of her staff in the +other, she hobbled along, with her eyes fixed upon the ground, groaning +and muttering about this terrible blow that seemed likely to fall upon +her.</p> + +<p>"Granny, granny, I've been wearyin' for you," said Geordie, holding out +both his hands, when at last Elsie's patience had guided the old woman +to the spot. "Oh, but I'm no able to make her hear. Nae words o' mine +can travel to her ear, and I had much to say to her," Geordie cried, +with a suppressed sob, as some terrible internal pain seemed to seize +him.</p> + +<p>The old woman had seated herself by his side, and her withered fingers +wandered trembling among his hair, as she moaned helplessly, "Oh, +laddie, laddie, what's this that's come upon us?"</p> + +<p>Suddenly, Geordie seemed to remember something, and, smiling brightly, +he feebly raised his hand to his jacket-pocket, and drew out the little +chamois bag, containing the slowly-gathered store of money with which he +intended to buy the ear-trumpet for his poor deaf granny.</p> + +<p>"I gathered the last sixpence yestreen, for holding the minister's +horse," he said, as he laid the bag in her hand, "It's to buy a thing +that makes deaf folk hear, granny. But she can't understand me, Miss +Cam'ell," he murmured, sadly, as he looked at Grace, who was leaning +over him; "and, oh, I would have liked well to tell her before I go away +about the Good Shepherd that you first told me about, Miss Cam'ell. I +dinna think she understands right what a Friend he can be to a body; and +I've always been waitin' till I got that horn for makin her hear to tell +her all about him, for it's no a thing that a body wad just like to roar +at the tap o' their voice. But you'll maybe speak to her some of the +things ye spak' to us, Miss Cam'ell. Ye'll have one less at the school +now, ye see," he added, smiling sadly; and then turning with a look of +tender pity on his grandmother, who watched him with wistful eyes, as if +she knew that his lips were moving for her, he said, "Oh, tell her to +listen to his voice, and let the sound into her heart. He was aye able +to mak' deaf folk hear, wasn't he, Miss Cam'ell?" said Geordie, with a +bright smile as he turned to his young teacher.</p> +<br> + +<p>They had now got ready a sort of litter, on which they meant to carry +him to the farm; for Mistress Gowrie felt convinced that only more +comfortable surroundings and a visit from the doctor was necessary for +his complete recovery, and was resolved that no care of nursing on her +part should be wanting to atone for any past indifference to the welfare +of the little herd-boy with which she might reproach herself.</p> + +<p>Geordie, seeing her anxiety to perform this deed of kindness, at last +consented that they should take him from his lowly heather couch, and +carry him to all the comforts of the best bedroom at Gowrie. But each +time they tried to lift him the boy got so deathly pale, and seemed to +suffer so intensely, that even Mistress Gowrie was obliged to +acknowledge that it might be best to wait till the doctor came. Indeed, +it soon became evident to all that Blackie's blows had touched some +vital part, and Geordie's herding days were done.</p> + +<p>He lay for a little while with closed eyes, seeming thankful to be +undisturbed, and a silence fell on the group round him, not broken when +Walter Campbell joined it; for a glance from Grace, and a look at +Geordie's face, told him all. He stood there, in the freshness and +strength of his youth, looking at the ebbing life of the boy whom he +felt then as if he would have died to save. How he longed to tell him +of all the blessing his words had brought to his soul, of the life-long +gratitude which must surround his memory; but it was too late. Walter +felt that he could not disturb the passing soul with anything so +personal; but in the land where Geordie was going they would meet one +day; and he would keep his thanks till then.</p> + +<p>The silence had not been broken for several minutes. Poor little Jean +had been trying to keep very brave and quiet, since Grace explained to +her how much her noisy grief would vex Geordie. But Elsie, who had +returned to her post at Geordie's head, and was seated silently there, +now gave a smothered sob, which seemed to fall on Geordie's ear. He +opened his blue eyes, and looking wistfully about, said in a faint +whisper, "Elsie, I didna know ye was here. I saw you on the +stepping-stones just when I was meetin' Blackie, but I thought you had +been away home before now; it surely must be far on in the gloamin'. Eh, +Elsie, but I'll no be able to keep the tryst for the bramble gatherin' +wi' you," he said, in a mournful tone, turning towards her, and +referring to a long-planned holiday, when they were to go together to +search for brambles for Mistress Gowrie and the forester's wife's joint +jam making. "But, Elsie, speak to me," he continued, feebly, holding +out his hand, for he could not see her face where she sat, "We'll keep +our tryst in the bonnie land beside the green pastures and the still +waters ye often read to me about. Will we no', Elsie?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, Geordie, I can't bear it. Why did you no let Blackie get hold o' +me? Oh, Geordie, Geordie!" Elsie sobbed, as she crept round within sight +of the boy, and knelt beside him with clasped hands and lines of agony +on her face, that made the fair child look like a suffering woman.</p> + +<p>Geordie turned his dying eyes upon her with a look of mingled love and +sorrow, which none who saw it could ever forget; and stretching out both +his hands, he said, "Oh, Elsie, will ye no give me one kiss afore I +dee?"</p> + +<p>And Elsie lifted up her fair face, which had been covered with her +hands, and bending down, kissed the dying lips. Then, with a look of +unutterable gladness and contentment, Geordie closed his eyes as if he +was going to. sleep.</p> + +<p>Walter Campbell turned away for a moment, for, as he afterwards told one +of his shipmates, "It was more than a fellow could stand, and he didn't +mind confessing that he hadn't stood it." Presently he hurriedly joined +the little group again, determined that Geordie must yet hear before he +went away how his faithful words had, through God's grace burnt +themselves into a wayward heart, and set a dead soul on fire. But he +found that another Voice was falling on Geordie's ear, which was closed +to all earthly sounds now; even that greeting to faithful ones which +bids them enter into the joy of their Lord.</p> + +<p>And so the poor bruised body did lie in Mistress Gowrie's +woodruff-scented best bedroom, and among her snowy linen, that night +after all, but Geordie was not there; his home was henceforth in the +many mansions of the Father's house.</p> + + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/107.png" alt="End of Chapter V"> </div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;"> +<a name="CHAPTER_VI"></a> + +<div> <img style="width:100%" src="images/108.png" alt="Chapter VI"> </div> + +<h3>AN OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW NAME</h3> +<br> + + +<p> <img style="float: left; clear: left; width: 75px" src="images/n.png" alt="N"> +ow, children, here we are at Kirklands, at last," said a lady with a +pleasant voice, to an eager-looking group of boys and girls, who were +clustering round her, in a large open travelling carriage, which had +just drawn up in front of an old gateway, and waited for admittance.</p> + +<p>"Kirklands at last," was re-echoed among the little party. The two boys +seated beside the coachman glanced round at the occupants of the inside +seats, feeling sure that, their higher position secured them superior +information, and shouted in chorus, "Mamma, mamma, Kirklands at last."</p> + +<p>"As if we didn't know that as well as you. do," shouted back Willie, a +curly-headed little fellow, seated beside his mother, who had a secret +hankering after the higher place of his elder brothers, along with a +desire to prove to them that their position was in no way superior to +his own.</p> + +<p>The old gates closed behind them, and the carriage bowled swiftly along +the smooth avenue, with its branching elms overhead. The pleasant vistas +of green, on all sides, were very grateful to the eyes of the young +travellers, wearied with miles of a white dusty turnpike-road, on a hot +July afternoon. They looked with delighted gaze on the new fair scene, +and thought what happy evenings they would have among those green glades +during the long summer days.</p> + +<p>But there was one of the party to whom this scene was not new, but old +and familiar, written over with many memories, some well-nigh overlaid +in the turmoil of life, but which flickered up with new vividness as she +looked on the calm sunlighted scene, and thought of other days. The +years had brought many changes to her, and it was with mingled feelings +that she gazed on this unchanged spot. Each grey-lichened rock stood out +from the mossy floor with a face that was familiar; all the little +winding woodland paths, she knew where they led to, and could take the +children to many a nook where wild flowers and delicate green ferns +still loved to grow, at they did long ago when she used to gather them +in these woods.</p> + +<p>"Seventeen years ago! is it possible?" she murmured, as she leaned back +in a corner of the carriage, and thought of the many leaves in the book +of her life which had been folded-down since she took farewell of these +green glades in her girlish days. And as she sits, quietly thinking, +while the little group round her are making the green aisles resound +with their merry laughter, we fancy, as we glance at her face, that it +is one we have seen before in this valley. The "stealthy day by day" has +certainly done its work; the outline of Grace's cheek is sharper than it +used to be, and the eager, speaking eyes have lost somewhat of their +fire, but there is a calm gladness in their gaze as she glances at the +joyous faces round her, that speaks of lessons learnt, and sorrows past, +during chequered days which have lain between the autumn evening, when +we saw her last, and this July afternoon, when she is coming with her +"two bands" to the home of her girlhood.</p> + +<p>Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, had passed away from this world during that +autumn seventeen years ago, and Grace had never revisited Kirklands +since. Walter, to whom it belonged, was still a naval officer. His home +on the sea had still more fascination for him than the inland beauties +of Kirklands, which had been left to strangers during the intervening +years.</p> + +<p>For some time past it had stood empty and tenantless, and Walter had +suggested that his sister, who had just come from a long sojourn abroad, +should, with her children, take up her abode there. Her husband, Colonel +Foster, was still on foreign service; and Grace, who longed to see the +old home after all her wanderings, had readily agreed to go with her +little flock and introduce them to the spot which was their dreamland of +romance, the historic ground of all the pleasantest stories in their +mother's mental library, often ransacked for their benefit.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster's servants were already at Kirklands, making preparations +for the arrival. The old rooms were being opened up once again, and +shafts of golden sunlight streamed through the long-darkened windows, on +the dark-panelled walls, as if to herald joyously the good news that +"life and thought" were coming back to the deserted house.</p> + +<p>As the carriage followed the windings of the avenue, the grey gables of +the old mansion began to peep through the green boughs, their first +appearance being announced by a jubilant chorus from the elder boys on +the box, which made little Willie feel painfully that his range of +vision was far from satisfactory. Presently, however, the timeworn walls +could be seen by all the party, as the carriage wheeled round the old +terrace, and the travellers reached the end of their journey. Then eager +feet began to trot up and down the grass-grown steps, and climb on the +old carved railing, where the griffins fascinated little Grace by their +stony stare, as they used to do her mother years ago. The long-silent +corridors began to resound with joyous laughter, as the merry party +rambled through the old rooms, wishing to identify each place with +historical recollections, founded on their mother's and Uncle Walter's +stories. And was that really the tree that Uncle Walter made believe to +be the rigging of a ship, and one day fell from one of its highest +boughs? And where used they to keep their rabbits, and in what room did +they learn their lessons? These, and such questions, were generally +asked in chorus, to which their mother had to endeavour to reply, as she +wandered among the familiar rooms with her merry boys and girls.</p> + +<p>"Mamma, do you know what I should like to see best of all? Two things, +mamma," whispered little Grace, as she caught hold of her mother's +dress.</p> + +<p>"And what would my little girl like to see —the toys mamma used to play +with when she was a little girl like Gracie? I believe I've carried the +key of the chest where they lie buried about with me all these years;" +and Mrs. Foster began to look in the little basket she held in her hand +for a shining bunch of keys.</p> + +<p>"It wasn't the toys I meant, though I should like to see them very +much," replied the little girl, who was more timid and gentle than her +brothers and sisters, and generally required more encouragement to +unburden her small mind, "it is the room where you taught Geordie that I +want to see—and Geordie's grave among the heather."</p> + +<p>Some quick ears had caught a name that seemed to be a household word, +and louder voices said, as the boy's clustered round their mother, "Oh +yes, mamma, do show us where you taught Geordie and little Jean."</p> + +<p>So Grace led the way through the dim passages that had once frightened +little Jean, and whose gloom now made the small Grace cling close to her +mother's side. The still-room was dark and unopened, for the servants +had not thought it necessary to include it in their preparations. Grace +went to the window and undid the fastenings, and the yellow afternoon +sun streamed on the dusty wooden bench where Geordie, and Jean, and +Elsie used to sit.</p> + +<p>The merry voices were hushed for a moment, and the children looked in +awed silence into the little room, as if it had been a shrine.</p> + +<p>After they had gazed long and silently, and their mother went to fasten +the window again, she said, "Children, we will come here and read God's +Word on Sunday afternoons, as the little company you know about used to +do long ago; and I hope you will all listen to the Good Shepherd's +voice, and follow it as Geordie did;" and presently the children trooped +quietly away along the dark vaulted passages.</p> + +<p>There was no faithful Margery now to be trusted with everything, and +able to put things straight in the twinkling of an eye, as her young +mistress used to declare she alone was capable of doing, so Mrs. Foster +had some unpacking and arranging preliminaries to superintend before she +could join her eager little party out of doors. But when tea was over, +and the sun had begun to scatter its orange and crimson tints over the +Kirklands valley, Grace thought she would like to take a stroll among +some familiar places before the darkness came.</p> + +<p>After lingering on the old terrace for a little, she gathered her boys +and girls round her, and said she was going to take them across the +park. She wanted to visit a place she remembered well, a pleasant angle +of a rising glade of birches, where she once stood mourning over the +traces of an uprooted cottage. But Grace knew that another home had +grown on the ruins of the former dwelling, and to it she bent her steps +now, for there was one of its inmates whom she longed to see. There was +something of the mingled feeling of interest and romance with which her +children wore viewing these now yet familiar scenes, in Grace's desire +to look on a face she had not seen for many years. Its image would rise +before her, chubby, smiling, and childlike, as of old; and then she +remembered the evening when she had first seen it tear-stained and sad, +as she crossed this path with the little fat hand in hers, as her own +Grace's was now.</p> + +<p>But Joan had not shed many tears since then. There was no happier home +in all the valley than the white cottage, over which the birch-trees +lovingly stretched their delicate fringes, her husband, the village +carrier, used to think when he came within sight of it, after his day's +journey was over, his parcels all delivered, and his horses "suppered" +for the night. Generally his bright-looking wife was hovering near the +door, waiting his coming with a little group round her as merry as the +one that was now making the woods of Kirklands ring with their +light-hearted laughter.</p> + +<p>Grace had not told the children that she meant to take them to see +little Jean that evening. She wanted first to go alone to the cottage +and see her quietly there, for she had many things to hear and ask. +Still, Grace had not been altogether a stranger to the home life there. +Sometimes a letter, written and addressed with laborious carefulness, +had followed her to remote foreign stations, and brought pleasant +memories of dewy heather and fragrant birches as she read it among +waving oleanders and palms. During all those years Grace had watched +over Jean's welfare, and many things in her pretty home told of her +thoughtful remembrance of Geordie's sister.</p> + +<div> <img src="images/117.png" alt="OLD SCENES REVISITED"> </div> + +<p>The arrival of the family at Kirklands had taken place a few days +earlier than was intended, so Jean had not happened to hear the news, +and was all unconscious of the pleasure in store for her. How often she +had longed to see the "young leddy of Kirklands," as she still called +her, how many times she said to her husband that she would be sure to +know her anywhere, though it was so many years since she had looked +into her face. But now, as Jean sat matron-like with her sewing, in +front of her cottage, while her children played near, she wondered what +"strange lady" could be coming along the path. She called her straying +little ones to her, in case they should be in the way, but she noticed +that the stranger did not seem to think so, for she had just stopped +kindly to stroke one little flaxen head, and Jean, with a mother's +pride, felt grateful that "her bairn should be respeckit among the +rest." But when the lady, still holding the little boy's hand, began to +climb the mossy bank, and came towards her, Jean thought she had surely +seen that face before. Though not till Grace had smiled, and said, +holding out her hand, "Jean, is it possible you do not know me?" did she +recognise her old teacher.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, Miss Cam'ell!" she said, with a cry of delight as she +dropped her mending and rose to meet her. "Is it really yourself? I +canna believe my verra eyes."</p> + +<p>And when Grace gazed questioningly into the serene, beaming face of the +little matron, she saw it had kept all that was best of its childish +lineaments, and felt with thankful gladness that Geordie's Shepherd had +not forgotten little Jean. Meanwhile the little loitering party came +along the road, and seeing their mother engaged in conversation beside +the pretty cottage door, they were eager to know who of all the old +friends she was talking to. Willie was the first to clamber up the mossy +bank and reach the cottage. The others were following, when he joined +them with an expression of mingled interest and disappointment on his +face.</p> + +<p>"I say Walter—Grace,—can you guess who mamma is speaking to? Well, +it's Geordie's sister,—little Jean."</p> + +<p>Then they all crept shyly near their mother while she talked at the +cottage door, glancing with interest at the inmate. But when little +Grace could find an opportunity she whispered in a tone of +disappointment, "Oh, mamma, is it really true what Willie says?" and +then she added with a sigh, when Willie's news had been confirmed, "Oh, +I'm so sorry; I do wish she could have stayed a little girl."</p> + +<p>Her mother smiled at the childish idea; but she presently remembered +that it was as the little herd-boy Geordie's image still lived in her +memory, though nearly twenty summers had come and gone since he entered +on that life in which earthly days and years are merged into eternity, +where the old and feeble renew their strength, and the young grow wiser +than the wisest hero.</p> + +<p>Grace's boys and girls had all to be introduced by name to the smiling +little matron, whose eye rested on them more or less appreciatively, as +she recognised a likeness to their mother or their Uncle Walter.</p> + +<p>Presently Grace turned to the little group, and said softly, "Children, +would you like to come to the knolls of heather on the other side of the +hill? I am going there now."</p> + +<p>"Oh yes, mamma, I want to go," chimed an eager though subdued chorus of +voices; and then the childish feet followed the two mothers as they +wandered slowly through the birch trees and crossed the path which led +to the stepping-stones. The water still splashed and gurgled noisily +round them, and the knolls of heather stretched with unchanged contour +on the other side. Beyond rose the white gables and thatched roof of the +old farm of Gowrie; but the former master and mistress were gone now; +and the young farmer, who had taken the lease, chafed considerably that +he had not been able to include the bit of heathery pasture lands in the +fields, seeing it had been previously secured by another tenant. It was +the only piece of land owned by Grace in the valley, and through all +these years of absence she had jealously guarded any encroachment upon +her territory. Old Gowrie had, at her earnest request, relinquished his +right to that portion of his domain in her favour, for he ceased to +wish to make it one of his economies to have his cattle grazing there.</p> + +<p>So it happened that though the pastoral valley had considerably changed +its face, and had much of its ruggedness smoothed away in the course of +years, this stretch of heather remained unreclaimed. It was still a +thoroughfare, but a very safe one now, for its only dwelling was a +grave.</p> + +<p>On the day after Geordie's death Grace had gone to see the last +resting-place destined for him in the little village churchyard. It was +a dreary patch of ground which looked as if the suns ray's never +penetrated through its high walls on the graves below. Crumbling +grey-lichened headstones peeped dismally from among the long dank grass, +and the little paths were overgrown with weeds. Everywhere there were +traces of unloving carelessness of the dead. And though Grace knew full +well that the silent sleepers below little heeded this selfish +forgetfulness, these surroundings sent a chill to her heart. She thought +she should like all that was left here of her boy-friend to lie in +pleasanter places. Far better he should rest underneath the heathery +sod among the pleasant breezy knolls, consecrated by many a heavenward +thought of the lonely little herd-boy, and by faithful words spoken in +an accepted time to a wayward brother's heart. So Grace made her suit to +the old farmer at a time when his heart was softened, and he was not +unwilling to part with a spot written over with a stinging memory. Miss +Hume, without even consulting Mr. Graham, had agreed to the transfer of +the land; and so it happened that Grace, like the patriarch long ago, a +stranger and sojourner in the land, held as a possession a +burying-place.</p> + +<p>The bright summer day had reached its dying hour when the little group +stood on the bank of the river. The yellow sunlight was merging into +deep orange and crimson, tinging with a wonderful variety of tints the +lower landscape. The rippling water looked as if a sudden cross current +of red wine had come flowing into it, and the little hillocks beyond, +golden with gorse, were steeped in the mellow light.</p> + +<p>The children followed their mother and Jean, with awed faces and hushed +voices, along the little gleaming sheep-walk, fringed by sweet wild +thyme and dog violets, with tendrils of deerhorn moss flinging their +arms across the path. At length they came on a little marble slab, by +the side of one of the knolls. The last golden shafts of sunlight were +stealing over its memorial words, and the young eyes read in silence:—</p> + +IN MEMORY OF<br> +<br> +GEORDIE BAXTER,<br> +<br> +Who went to the Fold above on the<br> +7th of August, 185—.<br> +<br> +"The Lord is my Shepherd;<br> +I shall not want."<br> + +<p>Presently, the silent group heard footsteps behind, and when Grace +glanced round she saw a woman, with two little boys by her side, coming +along the little path towards the headstone. She stopped suddenly when +she saw the strangers, evidently surprised by the unusual presence of +visitors in that unfrequented spot, and, turning down another path, went +away in the opposite direction. "Who is that, Jean?" asked Mrs. Foster; +"surely I have seen the face before."</p> + +<p>"Dear heart, do ye not know her? It's Elsie Gray. We dinna think, John +and me, that her bonnie face is much changed; but then we see it every +day," Jean replied, looking fondly after the retreating figure.</p> + +<p>"Ah, is it really Elsie? I was just going to ask about her, Jean. But +who are those children with her? I thought you told me in one of your +letters that she lived quite alone?" asked Grace, stooping down to pluck +a bluebell from Geordie's grave, instead of hurrying after this old +friend, as the little Grace expected her mother to do.</p> + +<p>Then the little matron went on to narrate how Elsie's home was still the +forester's pretty cottage, though her father and mother were both dead. +She had never been married, which Jean remarked was a great pity, and +hinted that a good many other people were of her opinion. But how the +parish of Kirklands could ever have got on without her if she had gone +away, or what life would be if she had not Elsie to go to in every joy +and sorrow, Jean could not imagine, as she said she frequently remarked +to "her John." Nobody's hands seemed to be fuller of helpful work, and +nobody did it more cheerily, than Elsie Gray.</p> + +<p>Then Jean explained that the two little boys were orphans whom she had +taken to her comfortable home; and "it wasn't the first pair o' laddies +she had made good for something," Jean added, admiringly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, mamma, don't you want to speak to her? She has such a nice, +beautiful face. Do let me run after her, and ask her to stop for a +minute," said little Grace, eagerly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Foster glanced musingly across the knolls at Elsie's slender +figure, as she sauntered peacefully home with her charge, and then she +said, "No, my dear, we shall not trouble Elsie to-night; but I shall +take you with me to see her in her own home to-morrow, if you wish it. I +shall be going there."</p> + +<p>The cold, grey light was beginning to steal over the woods of Kirklands, +and the rosy tints that still hovered about the knolls would soon give +place to the gloom of night, so Grace gathered her little party, and +turned her steps towards the river.</p> + +<p>The merry voices, hushed for a time, began again to resound through the +still evening air, and the children went hurrying on with Jean, who had +told them she must be going home to see after the milking of her cows, +and cordially responded to their wish to join her at the process.</p> + +<p>So Grace had been following slowly, and when she crossed the +stepping-stones, she looked lingeringly back, for, with the sound of the +rippling water had come the remembered echoes of Geordie's voice as she +heard it first. Then she called to mind the chilly spring day when she +had started on the search, pronounced so hopeless by old Adam the +gardener, and how gleefully she hailed the unexpected appearance of the +little herd-boy. She smiled as she remembered the childish eagerness +that made her fear that he would not appear at Kirklands, as he had +promised, and his rather reproachful reply that he "Aye keepit his +trysts." And then there rose mingled memories of those trysts, which be +had so faithfully kept in the little still-room, of her own childish +incapacity for the work she had so longed to do, and of the sense of +failure that hung over it so long.</p> + +<p>And as she turned to follow her merry boys, who were clambering up the +mossy bank, where the silvery bark of the old birch-trees were still +streaked with rosy sunset hues, she felt how much she had learnt from +the tender, earnest heart of Geordie.</p> + +<div> +"And comforted, she praised the grace<br> +Which him had led to be,<br> +An early seeker of that Face<br> +Which he should early see."<br> + +</div> + +<br> +<br> + +<div> <img style="width:20%" src="images/127.png" alt="End of Chapter VI"> </div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Geordie's Tryst, by Mrs. Milne Rae + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORDIE'S TRYST *** + +***** This file should be named 12765-h.htm or 12765-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/6/12765/ + +Produced by Miranda van de Heijning and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Geordie's Tryst + A Tale of Scottish Life + +Author: Mrs. Milne Rae + +Release Date: June 28, 2004 [EBook #12765] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORDIE'S TRYST *** + + + + +Produced by Miranda van de Heijning and PG Distributed Proofreaders + + + + + +GEORDIE'S TRYST. + + +A TALE OF SCOTTISH LIFE. + + +[Attributed to Mrs. Milne Rae] + +[Illustration: GEORDIE'S HERDING ENDED.] + +GEORDIE'S TRYST. + + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +GRACE CAMPBELL. + +[Illustration] + + +It was a chilly Scotch spring day. The afternoon sun glistened with +fitful, feeble rays on the windows of the old house of Kirklands, and +unpleasant little gusts of east wind came eddying round its ancient +gables, and sweeping along its broad walks and shrubberies, sending a +chill to the hearts of all the young green things that were struggling +into life. + +On the time-worn steps of the grey mansion there stood a girl, cloaked +and bonneted for a walk, notwithstanding the uninviting weather. + +"It's a fule's errand, I assure ye, Miss Grace, and on such an +afternoon, too. I've been askin' at old Adam the gardener, and he says +there isna one o' the kind left worth mindin' in all the valley o' +Kirklands. So do not go wanderin' on such an errand in this bitter wind, +missy." + +The speaker was an old woman, standing in the doorway, glancing with an +expression of kindly anxiety towards the girl, who leant on one of the +carved griffins of the old stone railing. + +Grace had been looking at the speaker with troubled eyes as she listened +to her remonstrance, and now she said, meditatively, "Does old Adam +really say so, Margery?" Then with a quick gesture she turned to go down +the steps, adding cheerily, "Well, there's no harm in trying, and as for +the wind, that doesn't matter a bit. It's what Walter would call a nice +breezy day. I'm really going, nursie. Shut the door, and keep your old +self warm. I shall be home again by the time aunt has finished her +afternoon's sleep." And Grace turned quickly away, not in the direction +of the sheltered elm avenue, but across the park, by the path which led +most quickly beyond the grounds. Presently she slackened her pace, and +turning for a moment she glanced rather ruefully towards the high walls +of the old garden, as if prudence dictated that she should seek fuller +information there, before she set out on this search, which she had +planned that afternoon. The old nurse's words on the subject seemed to +have sent a chilling gust to her heart, harder to bear than the bitter +spring wind. Old Adam certainly knew the countryside better than anybody +else, she pondered, and he seemed to have given it as his decision that +she would not find her search successful. + +Was it a rare plant growing in the valley that Grace was in search of? +Then, surely, the gardener was right; she should wait till the warm +sunshine came, and the south winds wafted sweet scents about, leading to +where the pleasant flowers grow among the cozy moss. Or did she mean to +go to the green velvety haughs of the winding river to get her +fishing-rod and tackle into working order at the little boat-house, and +try to tempt some unwary trout to eat his last supper, as she and her +brother Walter used to do in sunny summer evenings long ago? + +These had been very pleasant days, and their lingering memories came +hovering round Grace as she stood once again among the familiar haunts, +after an absence of years. Echoes of merry ringing tones, in which her +own mingled, seemed to resound through the wooded paths, where only the +parching wind whistled shrilly to-day, and a boyish voice seemed still +to call impatiently under the lozenge-paned window of the old +school-room, "Gracie, Gracie, are you not done with lessons yet? Do come +out and play." And how dreary "Noel and Chapsal" used to grow all of a +sudden when that invitation came, and with what relentless slowness the +hands of the old clock dragged through the lesson-hour still to run. + +But the quaint old window has the shutters on it now, and the eager face +that used to seek his caged playmate through its bars is looking out on +new lands from his wandering home at sea. The little girl, too, who used +to sit in the dim school-room seems to hear other voices calling to her +this afternoon. + +And while Grace stands hesitating whether, after all, it might be wise +to go into the garden to hear what old Adam has to say before she +proceeded to the high road, we shall try to find what earnest quest sent +her out this afternoon, in spite of her old nurse's remonstrances and +the east wind. + +Grace Campbell's father and mother died when she was very young, and +since then her home had been with her aunt. For the last few years Miss +Hume had been so infirm that she did not feel able to undertake the +journey to Kirklands, a small property in the north of Scotland, which +she inherited from her father. Her winter home was Edinburgh, and Miss +Hume for some years had only ventured on a short journey to the nearest +watering-place, while her country home stood silent and deserted, with +only the ancient gardener and his wife wandering about through the +darkened rooms and the old garden, with its laden fruit-trees and its +flowers run to seed. But, to Grace's great delight, her aunt had +announced some months before that if she felt strong enough for the +journey, she meant to go to Kirklands early in the spring. It seemed as +if in her fading autumnal time she longed to see the familiar woods and +dells of her childhood's home grow green again with returning life. So +the darkened rooms had been opened to the sun again, and on the day +before our story begins, some of the former inmates had taken possession +of them. + +The three years during which Grace had been absent from Kirklands had +proved very eventful to her in many ways. There had been some changes in +her outer life. Walter, her only brother and playmate, had left home to +go to sea. They had only had one passing visit from him since, so +changed in his midshipman's dress, with his broadened shoulders and +bronzed face, and so full of sailor life and talk, that his playmate had +hardly composure of mind to discover till he was gone that the same +loving heart still beat under the blue dress and bright buttons. And +while she thought of him with a new pride, she felt an undercurrent of +sadness in the consciousness that the pleasant threads of daily +intercourse had been broken, and the old childish playfellow had passed +away. + +But as the golden gate of childhood thus closed on Grace Campbell, +another gate opened for her which led to pleasant places. It had, +indeed, been waiting open for her ever since she came into the world, +though she had often passed it by unheeded. But at last there came to +Grace a glimpse of the shining light which still guides the way of +seeking souls to "yonder wicket gate." She began to feel an intense +longing to enter there and begin that new life to which it leads. She +knocked, and found that it was open for her, and entering there she met +the gracious Guide who had beckoned her to come, whispering in the +silence of her heart, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." Not long +after Grace had begun to walk in this path, an event happened which +proved to her like the visit to the "Interpreter's House" in the +Pilgrim's story; but in order to explain its full eventfulness, we must +go back to tell of earlier days in her aunt's home. + +On Sunday mornings Grace usually drove with her aunt to church in +decorous state. When Walter was at home he made one of the carriage +party, though generally under protest, declaring that it would be "ever +so much jollier to walk than to be bowled along in that horrid old +rumble," as he used irreverently to designate his aunt's rather antique +chariot. When they arrived at church, the children followed their aunt's +slow steps to one of the pews in the gallery, where Miss Hume used to +take the precautionary measure of separating them by sending Grace to +the top of the seat, and placing herself between the vivacious Walter +and his playmate. Notwithstanding this precaution, they generally +contrived to find comfortable recreative resources during the service, +bringing all their inventive energy to bear on creating new diversions +as each Sunday came round. There was always their Aunt Hume's fur cloak +to stroke the wrong way, if there was nothing more diverting within +reach; had it only been the cat, whose sentiments regarding a like +treatment of her fur were too well known to Walter, he felt that the +pleasure would have been greater. Sometimes, indeed, the amusements were +of a strictly mental nature, conducted in the "chambers of imagery." +Miss Hume would feel gratified by the stillness of posture and the +earnest gaze in her nephew's eyes. They were certainly not fixed +directly on the preacher, but surely the boy must be listening, or he +would never be so quiet. Grace, however, was in the secret, and knew +better. Walter had confided to her that he had got such "a jolly +make-believe" to think about in church. The great chandelier which hung +from the centre of the church ceiling, with its poles, and chains, and +brackets, was transformed in his imagination to a ship's mast and +rigging, where he climbed and swung, and performed marvellous feats, +also in imagination, be it understood. And so it happened that Grace +could guess where her brother's thoughts were when he sat gazing +dreamily at the huge gilded chandelier of the city church. + +Other imaginings had sometimes grown round it for Grace when it was all +lit up in the short winter days at afternoon service, and queer lights +and shadows fell on the gilded cherubs that decorated it, till their +wings seemed to move and hover over the heads of the congregation. To +Grace's childish mind they had been the embodiment of angels ever since +she could remember; and even long after childish things were put away +there remained a strange link between her conception of angelic beings +and those burnished cherubs whose serene, shining faces looked down +benignantly over the drowsy congregation on dark winter afternoons. + +But all these imaginings certainly came under the catalogue of +"wandering thoughts," from which the old minister always prayed at the +opening of the service that they might be delivered. So it is to be +feared that the sermon had not even the chance of the wayside seed in +the parable of sinking into the children's hearts. The words of her +aunt's old minister had as yet proved little more than an outside sound +to Grace, though she was in the habit of listening more observantly than +her brother. But there came a day when, amidst those familiar +surroundings, with the molten cherubs looking serenely down on her, she +heard words which made her heart burn within her, and kindled a flame +which lasted as long as life. + +It was on a Sunday afternoon in November, not long after Walter left. +Miss Hume was ailing, and unable to go to church, so it was arranged +that Margery should accompany Grace. The old nurse attended the same +church, and Grace had been in the habit of going under her wing when her +aunt was obliged to remain at home. The walk to church through the +crowded streets was a pleasant change, and Grace was in high spirits +when she ensconced herself at the top of Margery's seat--which was a +much better observatory than her aunt's pew--where every thing could be +seen that was interesting and amusing within the four walls. Besides, +there were small amenities connected with a seat in nurse's pew which +had great attractions for Grace when she was a little girl, and had +still a lingering charm for her. In the pew behind there sat a worthy +couple, friends of Margery, who exchanged friendly salutations with her +on Sunday, always including a kindly nod of recognition to her charges +if they happened to be with her. Then, at a certain juncture in the +service, the worthy tinsmith, for that was his calling, would hand +across the book-board his ancient silver snuff-box, of the contents of +which he himself partook freely and noisily. Of course, Margery only +used it politely, after the manner of a scent-bottle; and then Grace +came in for her turn of it, with a warning glance from nurse to beware +of staining her hat-strings, or any other serious effects from the +odorous powder. If Walter happened to be invited to enjoy the +privilege, he always contrived to secrete a deposit of the snuff between +his finger and thumb, being most anxious to imitate the tinsmith's +accomplishment. He was, however, afraid to make his first essay in +church, in case of sneezing symptoms, and before he had a chance of a +quiet moment to make the experiment when they left the pew, he used +generally to be caught by Margery, and summoned to put on his glove like +a gentleman, and any resistance was sure to end in the discovery and +loss of the precious pinch of snuff. Then the tinsmith's wife had also +her own congenial resources for comfort during service, which she +delighted to share with her neighbours. Grace used to receive a little +tap on the shoulder, and, on looking round, a box of peppermint lozenges +lay waiting her in the old woman's fat palm. These were very homely +little interchanges of friendship, but they made part of the happy +childish world to Grace, and years after, when the old pew knew her no +more, and she asked admittance to it as a stranger, she glanced round in +the vain hope of catching a glimpse of the broad, shining, kindly faces +of the old couple, feeling that to see them in their place would bring +back many pleasanter bygone associations than snuff and peppermint +lozenges. + +On this Sunday afternoon Grace perceived that there was something out of +the ordinary routine in prospect. The pews were filling more quickly +than they usually did. Strangers were gathering in the passage, and a +general flutter of excitement and expectation seemed everywhere to +prevail. + +"What is going to happen, I wonder, Margery?" whispered Grace, +impatiently; and presently the tinsmith leant across the book-board and +kindly volunteered the information that they were going to have a +"strange minister the night, and a special collection for some +new-fangled thing." + +And then Grace turned towards the pulpit in time to see the "strange +minister," who had just entered it. He was a tall man, of a stately +though easy presence, with grace and life in every gesture. As she +looked at him Grace Campbell was reminded of an historical scene, a +picture of which hung in the old hall at Kirklands, of a mixed group of +Cavaliers and Puritans. This preacher seemed in his appearance curiously +to combine the varied characteristics of both the types of men in these +portraits. That graceful flexibility of tone and movement, the high +forehead and waving locks, surely belong to the gallant old Cavalier, +but there is something of the stern Puritan too. The resoluteness of +the firm though mobile mouth betokens a strength of moral purpose, which +does not belong to the caste of the mere court gentleman; about those +delicately-cut nostrils there dwells a possibility of quivering +indignation, and in the eyes that are looking broodingly down on the +congregation true pathos and keen humour are strangely blended. + +Presently the deep, flexible voice, which had the soul of music in its +tones, re-echoed through the church as he called the people to worship +God, and read some verses of an old psalm. Familiar as the words were to +Grace, they seemed as he read them to have a new meaning, to be no +longer seven verses with queer, out-of-the-way expressions, that had +cost her trouble to learn as a Sunday evening's task, but a beautiful, +real prayer to a God that was listening, and would hear, as the "strange +minister's" voice pealed out,-- + + "Lord, bless and pity us, + Shine on us with Thy face; + That the earth Thy way, and nations all + May know Thy saving grace." + +And when the sermon came, and the preacher began to talk in thrilling +words of that saving health which the Great Healer of souls had died to +bring to all nations, Grace felt the reality of those unseen, eternal +things of which he spoke as she had never done before. Then there were +interspersed with those faithful, burning words for God beautiful +illustrations from nature, which fascinated the little girl's +imagination, as she sat gazing, not at the gilded cherubs to-night, but +on the benignant, earnest face of the speaker. He surely must have been +a sailor, or he could never have known so well what a storm at sea was +like, she thought, as she listened, spell-bound, feeling as if she was +looking out on the angry sea, with the helpless wrecking ships tossing +upon the waves; but then in another moment he took them into the thick +of some ancient battle, where the brave-hearted "nobly conquering lived +or conquering died;" or it was to some fair, pastoral scene, and then +the preacher seemed to know so well all the delights of heathery hills +and pleasant mossy glades, that Grace thought he certainly must have +been at Kirklands and wandered among its woods and braes. And into each +of his wonderful photographs he wove many holy, stirring thoughts of +God, and of those "ways" of his that may be known upon the earth, of +which they had been singing. + +Presently the preacher began to talk of what the worthy tinsmith had +called the "new-fangled scheme," for which, he said, he stood there to +plead that evening. He had come to ask help for the little outcast city +children. It was before the days when School Boards were born or thought +of that this gallant-hearted man sought to move the feelings and rouse +the consciences of men on behalf of those who seemed to have no helper. +It was for aid to establish schools for those destitute children, where +they might be clothed and fed as well as educated, that he went on to +plead. Grace sat entranced, listening to the preacher, as with the +"flaming swords of living words, he fought for the poor and weak." Never +before in the course of her narrow, sheltered child-life had she, even +in imagination, been brought face to face with the manifold wants and +woes of her poorer brothers and sisters, or understood the service to +which the Son of Man summons all his faithful followers: "Is it not to +deal thy bread to the hungry, and that thou bring the poor that are cast +out to thy house? when thou seest the naked, that thou cover him; and +that thou hide not thyself from thine own flesh?" + +It seemed to Grace, when the preacher had ceased, as if a new world of +loving work and of duty stretched before her; for could she not become +one of that band whom the preacher called in such thrilling words to +enroll themselves in this service of love? + +When the eloquent voice paused, and the congregation began to sing +again, Grace still felt the words sounding like trumpet-notes in her +heart. How she longed to ask the minister to take her to those courts +and alleys, and to tell her in what way she might best help those +neglected ones. How many plans coursed through her eager little brain +for their succour. But the preacher had said he wanted money for their +help; a collection was to be made before they left the church. + +Grace's store of pocket-money was slender, and, moreover, was not in her +pocket now. How gladly would she have emptied her little silken purse, +if she had only had it with her; but, alas! it lay uselessly in her +drawer at home. Her conventional penny had been put into the plate at +the door, as she came into church, and Grace thought ruefully that she +had nothing--nothing to give to help these poor forsaken ones, whose +hard lot had so touched her heart. Just then, however, she happened to +raise her hand to her neck, and was reminded of an ornament which she +always wore, the only precious thing she possessed. It was an +old-fashioned locket, with rows of pearls round it, and in the centre a +baby lock of her own hair, which her mother used to wear. Her Aunt Hume +had some time ago taken it out of the old jewel-case which awaited her +when Grace was old enough to be trusted with its contents, and given it +to her to wear, so it was her very own. But was not this a worthy +occasion for bringing of one's best and most precious things? Might not +this pearl locket help to bring some little outcast waif into paths of +pleasantness and peace? Yes, the locket should be given to the special +collection, Grace resolved; but it might not be wise, to divulge the +intention to Margery, who had already replied, when she was asked by +Grace if she could lend her any money, that nobody would expect a +collection from such a young lady. + +When the crowd moved away from the passage, and began to scatter, +Margery and her charge left the old pew in the highest gallery and +prepared to go down the great staircase which led to the entrance door. +Near the door there stood two elders of the church, with metal plates in +their hands, waiting for the offerings of the congregation. Grace had +been holding hers tightly in her hand, having untied it from her neck +and slipped the ribbon in her pocket, and now she laid it gently among +the silver, and the pennies, and the Scotch bank-notes, hoping that it +might slip unobserved between one of the crumpled notes, and so escape +the detective glance of Margery's quick eyes. But her hope was vain. +Nurse caught sight of the pearls gleaming pure and white among the other +offerings: "Missy, what have you done? Your locket! your mamma's +beautiful pearl locket! Did I ever see the like? It's a mistake, sir. +Miss Campbell could not have meant it," she said, turning to the elder, +with her hand raised to recapture it. + +"Stop, Margery, it is not a mistake; I meant to put it there," replied +Grace in an eager whisper, as she pulled her nurse's shawl, glancing +timidly at the elder, as if she feared he was going to conspire with +Margery, and that, after all, her offering would be rejected. + +"Missy! are you mad? What will your aunt say? Really, sir, will you be +so kind?"--and Margery did not finish her sentence, but looked piteously +at the elder, who was glancing at the little girl with a kindly, though +questioning expression in his eyes, saying presently: + +"You may have your locket back, if you wish it, my child. Perhaps you +have given it hastily, and may regret it afterwards, and we would not +like to have your jewel in these circumstances." + +"Oh, thank you, sir," Margery was beginning to say, in a grateful tone, +when Grace interrupted her. + +"No, please don't, sir, I will not take it back. It was my very own, and +I have given it to God, to use for these poor, sad boys and girls," +Grace added, in a tremulous tone. + +Then the old elder looked at Margery, and said, "My friend, I cannot +help you further. Neither you nor I have anything to do with this gift; +it is between the giver and the Receiver." + +There was something solemn in his tone which kept the still indignant +Margery from saying more, and she prepared to move away with her charge. +But, as she turned to go, she caught a glimpse of her acquaintance the +tinsmith, who was in the act of dropping into the plate a crumpled +Scotch bank-note, which he held in his broad palm. + +"Bless me, they're all going daft together," muttered Margery, with +uplifted hands, as she hurried away. "It was a very good discourse, no +doubt, but to think of folk strippin' themselves like that--a pun'-note, +forsooth, near the half of the week's work; the man's gone clean +demented." + +But the tinsmith's serene, smiling face showed no sign of any aberration +of intellect, and Margery took Grace's hand, and hurried her through the +crowd, resolved that she should not, for another instant, stand by and +countenance such reckless expenditure. + +Grace was conscious that her old nurse was still possessed by a strong +feeling of disapproval regarding her donation, so she rather avoided +conversation; besides, she had a great deal to think about as she walked +along the crowded lamp-lit streets by Margery's side. + +At last they reached the quiet square where Miss Hume lived, and as they +crossed the grass-grown pavement and went up the steps to the house, +Grace glanced up to the curtained window of her aunt's sitting-room, and +suddenly remembered, with a feeling of discomfort, that Miss Hume must +presently be told of the destination of her locket; if not by herself, +certainly by Margery, who had just heaved a heavy sigh, and was +evidently girding herself up for the painful duty of narrating the +strange behaviour of her charge. + +"Now, Margery, I'm going to auntie, to tell her about the locket, this +very minute, so you need not trouble about it," said Grace, as she ran +quickly upstairs to her aunt's room and closed the door. + +Margery never knew exactly what passed, nor how Miss Hume's +well-regulated mind was ever reconciled to such an impulsive act on the +part of her niece. But, as she sat at her usual post by the old lady +next day, while she took her afternoon's rest, Miss Hume said rather +unexpectedly, when Margery concluded she was asleep, "Margery, you +remember my sister? Does it not strike you that Miss Campbell is getting +very like her mother? These children are a great responsibility to me; I +wish their mother had been spared," she added, rather irrelevantly, it +seemed to Margery, and then presently she fell asleep without any +reference to the locket question. + +But that night, when Grace was going to bed, she told her old nurse that +her aunt had promised that when they went back to Kirklands again she +might try to find some little boys and girls to teach, and that she +would allow her to have one of the old rooms for her class. She did not +tell how eagerly she had asked that, in the meantime, she might be +allowed to try and help the neglected city children, to whose +necessities she had been awakened by such thrilling words that day, +though Miss Hume had thought it wise to restrain her impatience. But +out of that evening's events had grown the cherished plan which sent +Grace on such a chilly afternoon among the woods and braes of Kirklands +to seek any boy or girl who might need her help and friendship. + + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE SEARCH + + +Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, left the management of Kirklands entirely in +the hands of her business agent. Mr. Graham met the tenants, gathered +the rents, arranged the leases, and directed the improvements without +even a nominal interference on her part. And certainly he +conscientiously performed these duties with a view to his client's +interests. It may be wondered that Miss Hume did not take a more +personal interest in her tenants, but various things had contributed to +this state of matters. Indeed, she was now so infirm that it would have +been difficult for her to take any active interest in things around her, +especially as it had not been the habit of her earlier years to do so. + +It was her younger sister, Grace's mother, who used to know all the +dwellers in the valley so well that her white pony could calculate the +distance to the pleasant farmyard at which he would get his next +mouthful of crisp corn; or the muirland cottage, with its delicious bit +of turf, where he would presently graze, as he waited for his young +mistress, while she talked to the inmates. But if the little girl with +her white pony could have come back again to Kirklands, they would have +missed many a familiar face, and searched in vain for many a cottage. +The pleasant little thatched dwellings, with velvety tufts of moss +studding the roof, and pretty creepers climbing till they mingled with +the brown thatch, telling of the inmates' loving fingers, were all swept +away now, and in the place that once knew them, stretched trim drills of +turnips, fenced by grim stone walls, to which time had not yet given a +moss-covered beauty. + +Mr. Graham had thought it wise for his client's interests to remove +those little "crofts," and merge their kailyards into productive fields; +so the dwellers in the greensward cottages had to wander townwards to +seek shelter and work in city courts and alleys. The land was now +divided into a few farms, on which stood imposing-looking houses, with +knockers and latch-keys to the doors, where the little girl and the +white pony would never have ventured to ask admittance, or cared to gain +it--where "nobody wanted nothin' from nobody," old Adam, the gardener, +had assured Margery, when she made anxious inquiries concerning the +prospect of Grace's search, and who hoped that this circumstantial +information might persuade her young mistress to abandon it. + +The prophecy that it was "a fule's errand" rang unpleasantly in Grace's +ear, as she crossed the park and climbed the rustic stiles which led to +the high road. It was true she knew that during the last three years +there had been many a "clearance" at Kirklands, for she remembered +having overheard Mr. Graham congratulating her aunt on the larger +returns owing to these improvements. But surely, she thought, there +might still be found some little cottages like those to which she heard +her mamma was so fond of going when she was a girl. Walter and she used +certainly, she remembered, often to see children with bare, dust-stained +feet on the road, when they happened to go beyond the grounds on a +fishing expedition, or down with their aunt through her lands; but her +brother had been an all-sufficient playmate, and Grace's interest in the +peasant children did not extend beyond a glance of curiosity. But now +how gladly would she gather a little company of them to tell them that +old sweet story, which had come to her own heart with such new strange +sweetness, during these winter days, though she had heard it ever since +she could remember. Grace hurried eagerly along the high road, looking +at every turn for traces of any lowly wayside dwellings. There used to +be a little clump of cottages here, she thought, as she stopped at a +bend of the road where there were traces of recent demolitions, and a +great field of green corn was evidently going to reclaim the waste +place, and presently swallow it up. Behind where the vanished cottages +had stood there stretched a glade of birch-trees, with their low twisted +stems rising from little knolls of turf so mossy and steep, that the +drills of turnips and potatoes could not possibly be ranged there +without destroying their symmetry, even though the crooked birch-trees +were to be swept away. + +Grace wandered among the budding trees, and through the soft springy +turf that was growing green again in spite of the bitter spring winds, +but she found no little native lurking among the birches, and was +disappointed to come to the other side of the wood much more quickly +than she expected, without the _detour_ being of any practical use. + +The turf sloped away to a little stream that went singing cheerily over +sparkling pebbles, bubbling and foaming round the base of grey lichened +rocks, that reared their heads above the water, as if in angry +remonstrance at their daring to interfere with its progress. On the +opposite bank there stretched a bit of muirland pasture, studded with +little knolls of heather, growing green, in preparation for its richer +autumn tints. The pale spring sunlight began to grow more mellow in its +light at this afternoon hour; it glinted on the little gurgling stream, +lighted up the feathery birch glade, and lay in golden patches on the +opposite bank, where Grace noticed some cattle begin to gather on the +heathery knolls, as if they had come to enjoy the last hour of bright +sunshine. Perhaps some little cottages may be sheltered behind those +hillocks, Grace thought; and she began to examine how the grey rocks lay +among the water, and whether she could possibly find dry footing across +the stream. Presently she came upon a smooth row of stones, that were +evidently used as a thoroughfare. She had already begun to cross them, +keeping her eye cautiously fixed on the stepping-stones as she went +along, when she was startled by a voice which sounded close beside her. +On glancing round she saw on the opposite bank a boy standing with a +huge twisted cudgel in his hand, brandishing it in a warlike attitude. +He seemed to have suddenly appeared round one of the hillocks, and was +now shouting excitedly, in his rough northern dialect, as he waved his +stick: + +"Hold back, mem; hold back, I tell ye. Blackie is in one o' his ill +moods the day, and he's no safe. Dinna come a foot farther." + +Grace stood bewildered, balancing herself on the stepping-stones; the +apparition was so sudden that it almost took away her breath, and the +commands were so peremptory that she did not dare to disregard them by +going forward; but it seemed very hard to beat an ignominious retreat, +for here seemed to be just what she was in search of--a boy as +neglected-looking as any that were to be seen in the courts and alleys +of Edinburgh; of the very type which old Adam declared there was not one +to be found in all the lands of Kirklands. His head was bare, and his +flaxen hair so bleached by the sun that it looked quite white against +his bronzed face. He looked at Grace with a grave interest in his large +blue eyes, as if he would like to know a little more; but he still +brandished his cudgel before her, and shouted resolutely: + +"Hold back, or Blackie will be at ye." + +"But who is Blackie?" asked Grace, with a gasp, looking furtively round +in the direction of the birch wood, in case the said Blackie might be +approaching from behind. + +"Who's Blackie!" said the boy, repeating the question, as if to hold up +to ridicule the absurd ignorance which it implied. "Do ye no ken that +Blackie is Gowrie's bull--the ill-natertest bull in a' the +country-side?" + +"And what have you to do with Blackie?" asked Grace, glancing across to +the hillocks, where some cattle grazed inoffensively, in search of the +formidable animal. + +"I herd him--I'm Gowrie's herd-laddie. They're all terrible easy-managed +beasts but him, and he's full o' ill tricks. He can't bear woman-folks," +added the boy, with a slight mischievous twinkle in his eye; for he felt +more at his ease now, having assured himself that Blackie was much too +intent on some sweet blades of grass to give any trouble at that moment. + +"Gowrie! that's the old farm down in the hollow there, isn't it? And how +long have you been herding?" asked Grace, who still stood on the +stepping-stones, and pursued the conversation with the noisy little +stream babbling round her. + +"I was hired to Gowrie two year come Marti'mas, and afore that I herded +some sheep on the hill yonder. We had a hut all to oursels. I slept wi' +them a' night, and liked them terrible weel, a hantle better than the +cattle," and his eye wandered regretfully to a bleak mountain slope, +which had evidently pleasant associations for the little herd-boy. + +"Did you ever go to school?" asked Grace, anxious to introduce her +subject, for she thought she would like this boy for a scholar. + +"Ay, did I once, when I was a wee laddie. I was in the 'Third Primer,' +and could read pretty big words," and he fumbled in his jacket-pocket +for the collection of dog-eared leaves which represented his store of +learning. + +"Of course you can't go to school now on week days, when you have to +watch the cows; but perhaps you go to Sunday-school?" Grace asked; and +will it make her desire to do good appear very narrow and small, if it +must be confessed that she hoped to hear that he did not go to any? Her +mind was soon set at rest, however, for he presently replied: + +"The school at the kirk, ye mean? No; granny's dreadful deaf, and we +don't go to the kirk. I belong to Gowrie a' the week, but I'm granny's +on Sabbath; there's aye a deal to do, brakin' sticks and mendin' up +things, ye see." + +"And you really don't go to a Sunday-school?" exclaimed Grace, hardly +able to restrain her satisfaction at this piece of information. "But, +by-the-by, I have never asked your name. I should like to hear it, +because I hope we are going to be friends." + +"They call me Geordie Baxter," he replied, as he ran to check the +wanderings of one of the cows, while Grace stood watching him, as she +pondered how she might best frame an invitation asking him to be her +scholar. He seemed so manly and independent, though he was so young; +and, somehow, it was all so different from how she had planned her +finding of scholars. She had been looking for a cottage where the +tattered children might be crawling about the doorstep, making mudpies +and quarrelling with each other; and then she thought she would knock at +the door, after she had spoken to them for a little, and ask their +mother if she might have them to teach on Sunday. But this boy, ignorant +and neglected as he seemed to be, had certainly a manly dignity which +made Grace's invitations more difficult than she expected; though, after +all, he could only spell words of one syllable, and he went neither to +school nor to church. Surely he was the sort of scholar she had been in +search of. So when he returned to his former position opposite the +stepping-stones, after having admonished the straying cow-- + +"Well, Geordie, I am going to ask you if you will come to Kirklands, +where I live, on Sunday afternoons; and since you do not go to any +school, I can read a little to you, and perhaps help you to learn +something?" said Grace, not venturing to be more explicit on what she +wished to teach. "Do you think you would like to come?" + +"Ay, would I," he replied, eagerly. "I'm terrible anxious to learn to +read the long words without spellin' them." And then he stopped and +looked hesitatingly at Grace. "Would ye take Jean, I wonder?" he said, +coming a few steps on the stones in his eagerness. "She's my sister, and +a good bit littler than me, and she can't read any, but I'm thinkin' she +could learn," he added, in a sanguine tone. + +"Oh yes, certainly; I shall be so happy if you will bring your sister," +replied Grace, looking radiant, for she had; ust been thinking that +though Geordie was certainly a very valuable unit, he could hardly, in +his own person, make the "Sunday class" on which she had set her heart. + +"But I thought ye couldn't bear poor folk at Kirklands," said Geordie, +reflectively, glancing at Grace, after he had pondered over the +invitation. "Granny's aye frightened they will be takin' our housie from +us, as they have done from so many puir folk;" and then the boy stopped +suddenly, and a deep red flush rose under his bronzed cheek as he +remembered that he must be speaking to one of those same "Kirklands +folk." + +"Oh, your grandmother needn't be afraid of that. I am sure my aunt would +not wish to take away her home," replied Grace, hurriedly, also flushing +with vexation, and resolving that she would certainly listen with more +interest, if she happened to be present at the next interview, to Mr. +Graham's narratives concerning the improvements, seeing that they seemed +to involve the improving away of the natives off the face of the +country. + +Just then the sound of a horn came across the heather, and Geordie +started off, saying, "There's Gowrie's horn sounding; I must away and +gather home the kye." And he darted off across the hillocks in search of +his scattered charges, giving a succession of whoops and shrieks as he +brandished his cudgel and whirled about in the discharge of his duty, +quite ignoring Grace, who still stood on the stepping-stones, feeling +rather sorry that the interview had terminated so abruptly, for she +remembered a great many questions she would like to have asked. + +Presently Geordie, by dint of his exertions, managed to arrange the +cattle, with the formidable Blackie in front, in quite an orderly +procession, and he now prepared to move towards the farm, whose white +gables were visible from the pasture. He never looked back at Grace, or +gave any parting sign of recognition of her presence, and she began to +fear that perhaps after all he might forget about her invitation and +fail to appear on Sunday. + +"You won't forget to come to Kirklands on Sunday afternoon, Geordie?" +she called after him, trying to raise her voice above the noisy little +stream. + +"Didna I say that I would come and bring Jean? and I aye keep my +trysts," he shouted back again, with a look of indignant astonishment +that she should have imagined him capable of forgetting or failing to +keep his promise; and then he trudged away cheerily, swinging his stick, +more full of the idea of this "tryst" than Grace could guess, though his +mind dwelt chiefly on the thought of what a grand thing it would be for +little Jean to get a chance of learning to read. He was painfully +conscious that he had signally failed in his attempts to teach her, and +he was the only teacher she had ever had. + +In this little, unkempt, sun-bleached herd-boy there dwelt a very +tender, chivalrous heart, and on his little sister Jean all his wealth, +of affection had as yet been bestowed. Never did faithful knight serve +his lady-love more devotedly than Geordie had this little brown maiden, +since her earliest babyhood. + +They were orphans, and ever since they could remember their home had +been with their grandmother, a frail, dreamy old woman, so deaf that the +most active and varied gesticulation was the only means of conveying to +her the remotest idea of what one wished to say. Geordie, indeed, was +the only person sufficiently careless of his lungs to attempt the medium +of speech, and then his conversation was pitched in the same key as when +he performed his herding functions. + +To the little Jean, Geordie had been playmate and protector in one, her +absolute slave from the time she sat on her old grandmother's knee, and, +tiring of that position, lisped out, "Deordie, Deordie," holding out her +little brown hands so that he might take her, and then they would sit +together on the earthen floor of the cottage, and the gipsy locks would +intermingle with Geordie's flaxen hair, which yielded meekly to as rough +treatment from the little brown fingers as ever hapless terrier of the +nursery was called on to undergo. But Geordie's sun-bleached locks had +always been at her service, and his head and hands too; though it was +not much that the little herd-boy had been able to do for his sister. +Often as he lay on the heather, watching his cows, he smiled with +delight as he thought of the time when he should be promoted into a farm +servant, with wages enough to send Jean to school, and to buy her a +pretty print dress, all dotted with blue stars, like the one Mistress +Gowrie wore. As yet all his earnings had gone to pay board to his +grandmother, and for present necessities in the shape of shoes and +corduroys. He had in one of his pockets a little chamois bag, containing +a few shillings, which he always carried about with him; and it was one +of his recreations to spread them on one of the flat, grey stones and +count the silver pieces as they glittered in the sun. He knew well what +he meant to do with them when the pile grew large enough; but its growth +was a very slow one, and required much self-denial on Geordie's part, +seeing that the component parts of each shilling were generally gathered +in a stray penny now and then, which he earned by holding a market-going +farmer's cob; and if, by a rare chance, a sixpence happened to be the +unexpected result of one such service, then Geordie felt that he was +really getting rich, and would soon be able to buy what he had wished +for so long. It was not anything for himself, or even for Jean, as +might have been expected. Somebody had once told him that if his +grandmother only had an ear-trumpet she would be able to hear people +when they spoke to her. Geordie had the vaguest idea of what such an +instrument might be like, but decided that probably it bore some +resemblance in size or sound to the horn that summoned his cows home; +and having ascertained how much money it would cost, he resolved that he +would buy one for his granny whenever he could save the sum. + +The boy's heart was full of tender pity for the old deaf woman, with her +weird helpless ways, at whose side he had grown since his infancy; +though she could hardly have been said to "bring him up," for Granny +Baxter had been shiftless and unlovable when she was in possession of +her faculties, and her character had not improved under her trying +infirmities. Her grandson, however, always treated her with a tender +patience which no querulousness of the old woman could weary. Not so +little Jean. Only once she could remember her brother looking very grave +and grieved, and it was one day when she had refused to do something +that the old woman wanted, and put her in a white heat of passion by her +rebellion. Having escaped beyond the reach of her poor granny's +tottering feet, and, finding her way to the field where Geordie was +herding, she began to narrate her story in triumph, when her brother's +grave silence made her feel how naughty she had been. After that day +little Jean always tried to "mind" granny more, though she never +attained to the same unwearied service as Geordie. + +That Jean's education was being sadly neglected her brother felt +painfully, and he had made various efforts to teach her the little he +knew himself; but the knowledge contained in the "Third Primer" barely +sufficed for teaching purposes, and Geordie found, moreover, that the +little Jean was by no means an apt scholar. Indeed, the most hopeless +confusion continued to prevail in her small mind concerning the letters +of the alphabet, notwithstanding all his efforts. The natural history +lessons, however, had been a greater success; she had learnt from +Geordie the names of most trees and flowers that grew wild in the +valley, and knew the difference between a wagtail and a wren, which some +people who know their alphabet do not. Geordie sometimes thought that it +might be nice for Jean to go to the kirk, for it was from Jean's point +of view that he looked at most things in life. But then there was the +insuperable difficulty about Sunday clothes, so the idea had always +been given up after due consideration each time it presented itself to +his mind, and the church-going was reserved for that golden period when +Jean would be clothed in the blue-starred print frock, and he should +have a suit of Sunday clothes. Perhaps, with the encouragement of the +ear-trumpet, even frail granny might be conducted to church, Geordie +thought, hopefully, for he knew that she had the essentials of +church-going, as they presented themselves to his mind, stowed away in +an ancient chest-of-drawers where she kept her valuables. + +But in the interval, and while these happy days of good wages and +schooling for Jean and Sunday clothes still lay in the distance, this +invitation to go to the house of Kirklands to be taught on Sunday +afternoon was very delightful indeed, Geordie thought, as he trudged +home with dust-stained feet, carrying his shoes slung across his +shoulders, to pay an evening visit to his granny, eager to tell Jean +about the interview with the young lady and of the invitation. He knew +the news would be welcome to his grandmother also, for it had been one +of her standing grievances ever since he could remember that next rent +day Mr. Graham would be sure to give her notice to quit. And, indeed, if +the truth must be told, it was owing to Geordie's own useful and +reliable qualities that the little household had not long ago been told +to move on, and to make way for more money-making tenants. Farmer Gowrie +was one of the oldest residents on the estate, and he had frequently, as +he used daily to inform Granny Baxter, put in a good word for her with +the agent, and begged him to let the little cottage stand during the old +woman's lifetime; for where could he get a boy like Geordie at the same +money, as he remarked to his wife, so handy, so careful, so fearless of +Blackie, "the ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," who, under +his guidance, was meek as a lamb. + +But notwithstanding Gowrie's assurances that their home was safe, +Geordie knew that his grandmother would be very much pleased to know, if +he could make her understand the fact, that he had, that afternoon, +talked with a lady from the "big hoose" itself. She seemed kind and +"pleasant-spoken," and not at all the terrible ogre that Geordie always +imagined the lady of Kirklands to be. As the rent day came round, and he +went to the inn-parlour where the agent sat to receive the rents, he +used to lay the money on the table and then turn away quickly with a +beating heart, in case granny's oft-repeated prophecy should prove +true, and the dreaded notice to quit should really be coming at last. +But instead of any such terrible communication, after he had stood the +penetrating glance of the bald-headed factor, a kindly nod used +generally to follow, and presently Geordie was galloping home at the top +of his speed to assure his grandmother that there was no word of "a +flittin'" this Martinmas. And now he felt that their home was more +secure than ever, for had not the lady said that she was sure nobody +wanted to turn them out of it? + +Geordie's chief source of delight during his walk home was the thought +of what a pleasant outing the walk to Kirklands would be for Jean, for +there were many things within the lodge gates that she had heard of and +would like to see. Perhaps they might get a glimpse of the walled-in +garden as they passed, which Geordie had heard of from his master, who +was a friend of old Adam the gardener, and had been sometimes invited by +him to take a turn through his domain. But the happiest thought of all +was, that, perhaps, Jean might get more interested in her alphabet when +the young lady taught her. He resolved that he must not forget to take +the "Third Primer" with him, for it was possible that the young lady +might not exactly understand what they needed to be taught; for, after +all, she did not look so very old, he pondered, as he compared her +appearance with Mistress Gowrie's, the one grown specimen of the female +sex, except his grandmother, who made up his small world. + + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE FIRST SCHOLARS + + +Grace Campbell hurried home with not less eagerness than her future +scholar, to tell the news of her expedition at Kirklands. Her Aunt Hume +was only half awakened from her afternoon nap, and glanced with dropsy +eyes at the glowing face, as she listened to her niece's description of +how and where she had found Geordie. + +"Baxter! I do not remember that name; I must ask Mr. Graham who they +are, and all about them, nest time he comes," said Miss Hume, after +Grace had finished her eager narration, and stood twirling her hat in +her hand, hesitating whether she should tell her aunt Geordie's +impression of what sort of people the "Kirklands folk" were; but just at +that moment tea was brought, and on reflection, Grace resolved that, for +the present, it would be wise to keep silent on that point. Two days +passed quickly, and Sunday afternoon found Grace hovering about the +door of the little room which her aunt had given to her for her class. +She had been seated in state at a table which Margery had placed for +her, at what the old nurse considered a suitable angle of distance from +the form arranged for the scholars; but Grace began to think it felt +rather formidable to be waiting seated there, so she gathered up the +books again, and wandered between the avenue and the little room, +waiting with impatience the arrival of her first scholars, and having a +vague fear lest they might not be forthcoming after all. + +Meanwhile, Geordie and his little sister were toiling along the dusty +highway in an excited, expectant state of mind. The shady elm avenue was +a refreshing change after the hot white turnpike road. Geordie looked +keenly about him, noting all the well-kept walks and shrubberies, among +which he saw many plants that were not natives of the valley, and +thought he should like, sometime, to examine them more closely. + +At last they came in sight of the grey gables of the old mansion, and +little Jean grasped her brother's hand more closely, and looked up with +a frightened glance at the many windows, which seemed to her like so +many great eyes all staring at her. She began to wish that she was +safe back in her granny's cottage again, but consoled herself by +thinking that as long as she had hold of Geordie's hand nothing very +dreadful could possibly happen. Geordie, too, was somewhat overawed by +the nearer view of the "big hoose," which certainly seemed much more +formidable in its dimensions than it did from the moorland, where he +used to get a glimpse of it while he watched the sheep, and then it +looked no larger than the grey cairn which he made his watch-tower, but +now it seemed to frown above him, and the windows, too, began to create +uncomfortable sensations in his mind as well as Jean's. + +With the sight of his friend of the stepping-stones, his flagging +courage returned, for had he not conversed with her on his own domain, +and been invited by her to pay this visit? + +"This is Jean," he said, immediately looking up at Grace with his frank +smile, as he gave his sister a little push forward. + +"I have kept my tryst, ye see. You thought, maybe, I wouldna mind," he +added, smiling again at the absurdity of the idea that he should forget +such an eventful engagement. "I am so very glad to see you, Geordie, +and Jean, too. I must say I was a little afraid that you might forget +to come," added Grace, quite in a flutter of delight over the arrival of +her scholars, which they little dreamt of. Then she happened to glance +at Jean, who stood clutching her brother's corduroys in a very +frightened attitude, and Grace remembered that this was also a new +experience for the scholars, and perhaps they, too, might be suffering +from the nervousness which had been following her from the lawn to the +class-room for the last hour as she waited for them. + +Putting out her hand to Jean, she said, in an encouraging tone, "Come, I +dare say you must be tired after your walk in this hot afternoon. We +shall go to a little room that my aunt has given us to sit in, and see +if we cannot find something nice to read and learn," and Grace led the +way up the old steps and across the hall, then through what appeared to +the children quite a bewildering maze of dark passages, so dim and +sombre after the bright sunshine, that Grace overheard Jean say in an, +abrupt whisper, which was instantly smothered by her brother, "I'm +afraid, Geordie; I'm no gain' farther upon this dark road." + +At last the little company reached the room that had been assigned to +them. It was the old still-room, but it had been long in disuse, and +was scarcely less dim than the passages which led to it. The high narrow +window only admitted a few slanting rays of sunlight, that danced on the +white vaulted roof, which was queerly curved and arched by the windings +of a narrow staircase above. It looked, however, none the less an +imposing chamber to Geordie, who instinctively drew off his cap as he +came in from the sunny glare of the fresh spring day to its +semi-darkness. + +Then Jean, who had decided that the best code of manners was to watch +what Geordie did, and follow implicitly, began to pull the strings of +her little bonnet, to remove it from her head. It had been a present +from Mistress Gowrie on New Year's Day, and this was the first occasion +on which Jean had worn it, though it had often been taken from its +resting-place in a red cotton pocket-handkerchief, and viewed with +complacency. To-day, when it came to be-tied, she had to apply to +Geordie, her unfailing help in all extremities; and he in his efforts to +make an imposing bow like the one which decorated Mistress Gowrie's +ample chin, had knotted the strings after the manner of whipcord, so +that they required all Grace's ingenuity to disentangle them. + +Presently, after all these preliminaries were satisfactorily +accomplished, the young teacher seated herself at the table, and began, +to fumble nervously among the books which she had brought to use. There +was a little story-book that Walter and she used to like long ago, in +which she thought would be nice to read to them, and her mother's Bible, +in which she had been searching all the morning for what might be best +to choose as the first lesson, having selected and rejected a great many +parables and incidents both in the New and Old Testaments, and was even +now doubtful what they should begin to read. + +The sight of the books reminded Geordie of his pocket compendium of +knowledge, and coming to the table he laid the dog-eared "Third Primer" +in Grace's hand, saying, "I've been once through, but I'm thinkin' I've +maybe forgot it some. I doubt Jean doesna know one letter from another, +though I've whiles tried to make her understand," added Geordie, rather +ruefully, as he glanced towards the smiling little maiden, who sat quite +unabashed at this account of her ignorance. + +Grace was rather taken aback by the sight of the spelling-book, and also +by Geordie's statement as to the amount of his knowledge, though it was +the same as he had made at their first interview. Grace, however, in her +eagerness, had not understood its full import, so she gasped out in +some dismay, "But you can read the Bible a little, can you not, +Geordie?" + +"Maybe I might, if I tried," replied Geordie, in a hopeful tone. "They +were just goin' to put me into the Bible when I left the school. I have +heard them reading out some of the stories, and I thought they wouldn't +be that difficult to spell out. Maybe if I read in the primer for a +while, ye'll put me into the Bible," he added, evidently having a strong +idea of the necessity for a good foundation of spelling-book lore before +proceeding to use it. + +But Grace thought ruefully of all her high-flown plans for this Sunday +class, and felt that it was a terrible descent to be restricted to the +"Third Primer." But Geordie seemed convinced that through this dog-eared +volume lay the only royal road to learning. He had already opened the +book at one of the little lessons near the end which he seemed to think +he had not sufficiently mastered in the "schoolin' days" already far +away in the distance to the little herd-boy. He still stood by Grace's +side at the table, and his finger travelled slowly along the page as he +read, in the nasal sing-song tone in which the reading functions were +performed at the parish school, one of those meaningless little +paragraphs that are supposed to be best adapted by the compilers of +primers for teaching the young idea how to shoot. + +Grace sat listening, rather perplexed as to what course it would be best +to pursue. This certainly was not the kind of ideal Sunday-class which +she had in her mind all these months; indeed, this "Third Primer" was +hardly orthodox food for Sunday at all, according to her ideas; and yet +Geordie was laboriously travelling over the page with a dogged +earnestness which she did not know how to divert into any other channel +without doing harm in some shape or other. But presently help came to +her from a quarter where she had least expected it. + +Jean, who had been seated on the form unnoticed for several minutes, +listening to Geordie's earnest but uninteresting sing-song, as he stood +at the table leaning over his lesson-book, got tired of her neglected +situation, and descending from her high seat, she planted her sturdy +little legs on the floor, saying, in a decided tone, as she stumped away +towards the door, "Geordie, I'm tired sittin' here. I'm away home." +Jean's words fell like a thunderbolt both on Geordie and Grace. The +blood mounted to the boy's face, and his earnest blue eyes turned +anxiously towards the young teacher, to see what she was thinking of +such an utter breach of good manners on Jean's part. + +[Illustration: THE FIRST LESSON.] + +Poor Grace felt bitterly conscious of sudden and terrible failure in +this work which she had so longed to undertake. She had not been able to +interest one scholar for a quarter of an hour, and the other seemed only +to have his heart set on learning to spell. "But it is not quite time to +go home yet, Jean," she faltered, as she watched the little girl's +efforts to open the door, since Geordie did not seem inclined to come +to her assistance. "Indeed, we haven't really begun yet," continued +Grace. "Come, Jean, would you not like to stay a little longer and hear +a story from the Bible before you go? Geordie used to like them at +school, he says;" and then, turning to the boy, who stood looking in +grave reproving silence at Jean, she said, "Besides, Geordie, I think, +perhaps, I did not quite explain to you the other day what I thought we +should try to learn on Sunday afternoons when you come here. I shall be +very glad to help you with spelling, too, you know, but I thought I +should like to tell you something about the Lord Jesus Christ our +Saviour, and to read some of his wonderful words which we find in the +New Testament. You have heard of him, have you not, Geordie?" + +"Oh, ay, I'm thinkin' I have. But it was in the Auld Testament they were +readin' when I was at the school. I mind there was a right fine story +about a herd-laddie killin' a big giant, that one o' the laddies telt me +once. You've heard it many a time from me, Jean." + +"Ah, yes, I know that story too," Grace replied, brightening, as if a +glimmer of light had come to her in her perplexity. "And if you will +listen, I can tell you another story--about a Shepherd, too. I'm sure +you would like it, if you would only come back for a little and listen, +Jean," said Grace, eagerly. + +She did not venture to open the Bible, in case the little girl should +think the book would imply another course of spelling, and be roused +into immediate flight. Abandoning all her carefully arranged plans for +teaching which she had been thinking of for so long, she looked into +Geordie's eyes, which were still wandering hungrily towards the +unconquered pages of the primer, and began to tell of the Shepherd who +watched the hundred sheep in a wilderness far away in a very hot +country, where the burning sun dried up the streams and withered the +pasture, and where it was very difficult to find food for either man or +beast. And then she told of how very wise and tender this Shepherd was +with his flock, looking after their wants day and night, and taking very +special care of the silly, play-loving lambs, who did not guess what +terrible dangers they might fall into; for there were wild beasts +prowling about, ready to pounce upon them, and rushing torrents that +came suddenly from the hillsides in rainy seasons, which would have +drowned them in a minute, if the Shepherd's watchful eye had not been +there. He knew all their names, too, though sheep are so wonderfully +like each other." + +"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie. "He must have more wit than Gowrie's +shepherd, then. He has been wi' them for more than a year now, and I +dinna think he knows the one from the other so well as I do." + +Little Jean seemed to have abandoned her design of immediately returning +home, and was gradually edging nearer the table, with her twinkling +black eyes fixed on Grace. + +"But I was going to tell you what happened to one of the little lambs in +spite of the Shepherd's watchful care," Grace continued, feeling +inspirited by the growing interest of her audience. + +"Eh, but I hope none o' the wild beasts ye spoke o' got hold of it," +said Geordie, drawing a long breath. + +"Well, there's no saying what might have happened, but for the Good +Shepherd. For the little lamb got lost--lost among bleak, sandy hills, +where it could find no green blade to eat, and got very hungry and +footsore. It could hear no kind shepherd's voice that it used to love to +listen to in happier days, but only terrible sounds like the bark of +wolves, coming nearer, and lions prowling about when it began to get +dark." + +"Puir lambie!" murmured Jean, whose face now rested on her little fat +hands, while, leaning on the table, she looked up in Grace's face; "it +must surely ha'e been very frightened," she added, in a compassionate +tone; for she knew that she did not like to cross the turf in front of +the cottage, after dark, without Geordie's protecting hand. + +"Yes, it surely must have been frightened enough, for it was certainly +in great danger, and the Shepherd knew what a terrible plight it must be +in, wandering about tired and hungry, far away from the fold. For what +do you think he did?" Grace continued, looking at Geordie; "he actually +left all the other sheep--the ninety-nine, you know--in the wilderness, +and went away to seek for this poor little silly lost lamb." + +"Did he though! He must have been a real fine man," responded Geordie, +warmly. "There's Gowrie's shepherd lost a wee lambie among the hills not +lang syne, and when Gowrie asked him, when he came home, why he didna +look about among the heather for it, he said he couldn't leave the rest, +and that it was a puir sick beastie no' worth much trouble. But it was a +nice wee thing for a' that, and it must have died all alone there, with +nobody to give it a drop of water," said Geordie, regretfully, for he +had a tender heart for all dumb creatures. "I must tell Gowrie's lad +about this Shepaerd the very next time he comes round the hill. But did +he find the lambie?" he asked, turning to Grace. + +"Yes, he found it. He looked for it 'till he found it,' the story says. +After wandering along a road full of danger and painfulness, and +sorrowful sights of the terrible ruin the wild beasts had wrought, he +came upon the little strange lamb, just when its heart was beginning to +faint and fail. The story does not say that he punished it for running +away and giving him so much trouble, or even that he spoke some chiding +words and pushed it along in front of him with his crook, as I have +sometimes seen shepherds on the road do when the sheep get footsore and +weary and unwilling to go on with the journey." + +"Ay do they. They get their licks many a time when they don't deserve +them," chimed in Geordie, in a pathetic tone. + +"Well, but instead of any hard words or beatings, what do you think the +Shepherd did? He took the little lamb into his own weary arms, and it +lay safe and warm there, while he carried it all the way home to the +fold." + +"Did he though?" exclaimed Geordie, in warmest admiration. "Eh, but the +lambie must surely have been right fond of the Shepherd after that. I'm +thinkin' he would know his voice better than before, and follow him +right close and canny. That's the kind o' shepherd all beasts would +like, for they know fine when a body cares for them," Geordie said, with +a glowing face, as he looked up at Grace, and the "Third Primer" slipped +unheeded on the floor. + +Was it a mere chance coincidence that this remark of Geordie's came at a +moment when it made more easy of introduction to Grace that part of the +parable story which she was full of eagerness to tell to her first +scholars? She desired that it might prove to them not merely a pleasant +tale, which had beguiled an hour that had threatened to be a very weary +one, to little Jean, at least; but that, through its homely dress, they +might catch a glimpse of its higher meaning, and be able to trace the +footsteps of the Great Shepherd of souls. + +"Yes, Geordie," she continued, "one would certainly imagine that the +sheep would follow such a shepherd very closely, and be very sure that +his way was always best, and that he was leading them by wise safe +paths, even when they seemed thorny and toilsome; but it is not so. I +can tell you of a Shepherd who not only went through many painful dark +desolate places, so that his flock might not stumble and fall when they +came to follow, but ended by laying down his life for his sheep. And yet +these very sheep do not always listen to his voice, nor follow the safe +narrow paths which he has tracked out for them, through the wilderness, +to the happy fold. I think you must both have heard of this Shepherd, +Geordie, and little Jean too." + +"I never knew a shepherd except Gowrie's, and he lost the bonnie lambie +with the black face, that used to lick Geordie's hand," replied little +Jean, with a doleful expression in her usually merry black eyes. + +"Ah, but this Good Shepherd always searches for the lost sheep till he +finds it, and then he carries it in his arms all the journey through to +his beautiful home among the angels, and there is joy among them over +the little found lamb. For it is the Lord Jesus Christ who calls himself +the Good Shepherd, Jean, and who has told us this story about finding +the lost sheep, that we might understand the better how he came to this +world to save us from dark dangerous paths of sin that go down to death. +For we have all strayed as this poor silly lamb did, and some of us are +straying yet," continued Grace; and then, glancing at Geordie's earnest +face, she said, "You have heard of the Lord Jesus Christ, who came to +save us from our sins, have you not, Geordie?" + +"I have heard tell o' him. But I didna just think he was so real-like as +a shepherd with his sheep, or that he would have ta'en that trouble for +_one_," Geordie replied, with a dreamy look in his eyes; but he did not +say more. + +Just then Margery knocked at the door, and intimated that the hour was +expired, and little Jean again began to show some signs of restlessness, +so Grace felt regretfully that the first afternoon had come to an end, +and she had not followed any part of the programme which she had +previously marked out. There was the hymn-book, with a tune all ready +to sing to one of the hymns, which Grace had practised painstakingly on +the piano the day before. But now she found that neither Jean nor +Geordie could sing, so she thought it might be wise to select something +simpler than she had chosen before, and ended by singing her oldest +childish favourite, "The Happy Land." It was evidently new to the +children; for their poor old deaf granny's was not a musical home. +Geordie's eyes dilated with delight as he listened, and he kept giving +Jean a series of nods across the table, in case she should by any chance +miss the full enjoyment of such beautiful sounds. + +A second knock from Margery, this time carrying a plateful of +currant-cake which Miss Hume had sent to the children, fairly broke up +the little gathering. Grace felt with disappointment that this first +class had come sadly short of her ideal, was a complete failure, in +fact, when she remembered all that she had meant to say and do, and all +the hoped-for responses on the part of the scholars. + +In thinking of this afternoon long afterwards, when it lay in the clear +rounded distance of the past, Grace used to smile as she remembered her +restless impatience, and compare herself to the little girl who was +always pulling up by the roots the flowers she had planted in her +garden, to see how they were getting on. + +When they prepared to leave the little still room, Grace handed Geordie +his precious "Third Primer," which she found lying on the floor, and as +he put it into his jacket pocket, he said with a smile, "I won't bring +it back with me, I'm thinkin'. Ye'll maybe tell us some more about the +Good Shepherd next time, and I can hold at the spellin' when I'm +herdin', and maybe I'll soon be able to get into the Bible itself," he +added, still firm in his belief that the only entrance lay through the +spelling-book. + +Grace, remembering little Jean's dislike to the exit through the dark +passages, led the way to a door which opened into a path to the garden. +Jean manifested undisguised satisfaction when the dim still-room +precincts were fairly left behind, and they got into the pleasant old +walled-in garden, where the yellow afternoon's sun was lying on the +opening fruit-blossom, and bringing delicious scents out of the +newly-blown lilac and hawthorn. She kept pulling Geordie's corduroys, to +draw his attention to all that captivated her as they walked along the +broad gravel walk. This was certainly a much pleasanter way home than +along the dim passage, and Jean decided that the best part of the +afternoon had come last. Presently Grace opened the door of one of the +greenhouses, and they stood among richer colours and sweeter scents than +before. The children had been surveying with admiring wonder the +dazzling house glittering in the sun, which was making each pane sparkle +like a diamond, but they never dreamt that it would be given to them to +enter it, or indeed that it had an interior which could be reached, so +entirely did it seem to belong to the region of the sun, not to the +world of thatched cottages and grey walls. + +"Eh, but surely this will be something like the happy land you were +singin' aboot," Geordie said at last, with a long-drawn breath, after he +had wandered about in silence for some time, revelling in the exotic +delights of the first greenhouse he had ever seen. + +"Oh yes, Geordie; there will be all this, and a great deal more; things +so beautiful and, glorious that our poor minds can't even imagine what +they will be like," said Grace, glowingly, feeling a thrill of pleasure +to hear that the hymn had any meaning for the boy, so desponding was she +concerning her efforts. "Look here, I'll just read to you about the +pleasant place where the Good Shepherd leads his flock, after their +journey on earth is over." And leaning against an old orange-tree, +Grace read to her little scholars about that wonderful multitude "which +came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made +them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the +throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that +sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, +neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any +heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, +and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe +away all tears from their eyes." They stood quite still for a few +moments after Grace had finished reading, each thinking some new +thoughts. + +In the mind of little Jean, to be sure, there certainly prevailed some +confusion of ideas between the happy land of which she had been hearing, +and the beautiful garden in which she stood. Indeed, to the end of her +life, the yellow glitter of the sun on the Kirklands greenhouses brought +to her mind the description of that "city of pure gold, as it were +transparent glass;" and the tall tropical plants which were ranged round +the shining floor were to her the embodiments of the trees whose leaves +were for the "healing of the nations." + +But Geordie's thoughts were most about that Shepherd Saviour who seemed +to be able to lead his flock away from bleak, scorching places to such a +blessed land as these words told of. + +In spite of old Adam's approaching shadow on the gravel walk, Grace +plucked a few of the rare, beautiful roses and gave them to little Jean, +whose small fat hands were eagerly stretched out to receive the prize. +They spent the remainder of their flourishing existence in a broken +yellow jug on the window-sill of Granny Baxter's cottage, and were a joy +to Jean for many days. And when it was the fate of their companions +still left in their stately glass home to be gathered into Adam's barrow +when their charms had past, and ignominiously flung away, Jean's roses +had a more honourable future. After they had done their duty faithfully +on the window-sill, the dead leaves were tenderly gathered and scattered +in the drawers allotted to Jean in the ancient chest, where they made a +sweet scent in their embalmment for many a day. + +The little party arrived at last at the farther end of the garden, where +there was a door in the high, red wall opening on a path which led to +the turnpike-road. Grace turned the rusty key, and the children saw the +familiar face of their native valley again. Giving a lingering backward +glance into the pleasant garden which they had just left, they trotted +away towards the dusty high-road, while Grace stood watching them till +they were out of sight. + + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +ELSIE GRAY + + +"I'll tell you what it is, Grace; that scholar of yours is far too fine +a fellow to be left to tie companionship of old Gowrie's cattle any +longer." + +The speaker was a bright, breezy-looking lad in midshipman's dress, who +was sauntering up and down the old terrace at Kirklands, in company with +our friend Grace. She is a year older than when we saw her last at the +garden-gate, parting with her two scholars after their first Sunday +together. They have had a great many afternoons in company since then. +Grace had remained in her summer home all through the long Scotch +winter, and now autumn had come, bringing with it her brother Walter on +a delightful holiday of six weeks, after an absence of years. + +Miss Hume had got so frail the previous year, that she was unfit for the +return journey to her house in Edinburgh, and the following months had +only brought an increase of weakness. She now lay in her darkened room, +with, her flickering lamp of life burning slowly to its socket, while +some young lives beside her were being kindled by glowing fires which +would cause their hearts to burn long after the "glow of early thought +declines in feeling's dull decay." + +The little company in the still-room had somewhat increased, four others +haying been added to the two first scholars. One of them was Elsie Gray, +the forester's daughter, a pretty little girl with a sweet voice, and +able to sing a great many hymns, so that Grace had no longer to perform +solos to the still-room audience, but was accompanied by more than one +voice timidly following Elsie's example, and joining in the singing. +There were three other scholars from the borders of the next parish, and +a very happy party they all made together. But it must be confessed that +the warmest place in Grace's heart was reserved for the first scholar +whom she had found that chilly spring day among the pasture lands which +sloped down to the little stream. Judged by an educational standard, +Geordie was certainly, with the exception of the little Jean, the most +deficient of the company, in spite of his having manfully conquered the +last pages of the "Third Primer," and got at last "intil the Bible." +The other boys and girls still attended the parish school on week days, +and seemed more or less very fairly in possession of the rudiments of +education. Some things, however, which they read and heard in the little +quiet room at Kirklands sank into their hearts as they had never done +when they read them as the stereotyped portion of the Bible-reading +lesson amid the mingled jangle of slates and pencils and pattering feet, +with the hum of rough northern tongues, which prevailed in the parish +school-room. + +To Geordie even this discordant medium of education had been denied. +Grace had set her heart on having him sent to school during the past +winter. She saw what a precious boon such an opportunity appeared in +Geordie's eyes when she suggested it to him. But Farmer Gowrie had to be +consulted, and finding the herd-boy useful in winter as well as during +the summer months, he decided that he could not possibly spare Geordie. +And as for Granny Baxter, she could not understand what anybody could +want with more learning who was, able to earn money. So Geordie had one +day lingered behind the other scholars to tell Grace that the idea of +going to school even during the winter quarter must be given up. There +was always a manly reticence about the boy which made one feel that +words of sympathy would be patronising; but Grace could see what a +bitter disappointment it was, though he appeared quite unalterable in +his decision that he "belonged to Gowrie," when Grace tried to arrange +the matter by an interview with the farmer. He could only claim the boy +week by week, and the young teacher did not see the necessity for such +self-denial on Geordie's part. + +Then Grace's store of pocket-money had been devoted to sending little +Jean to school. This arrangement had been a source of great delight to +Geordie--much more of an event to him, indeed, than to the phlegmatic +little Jean, to whom the primer did not contain such precious +possibilities as it did to her brother's eyes. Grace had arranged that +she should go to a girls' school lately opened in the parish. It was the +one to which Elsie Gray, the forester's daughter, went. On her way to +school she had to pass Granny Baxter's cottage, and after Jean was +installed as her fellow-scholar, Elsie used generally to call and see if +the little girl was ready to start, so that they might walk along the +road together. + +Elsie was a pale, fragile-looking girl, who looked as if she had grown +among crowded streets, rather than blossomed in the open valley, with +its flowing river and breezy hillsides. She was a very silent child, +too, with a meek grace about all her movements; her large grey eyes +shone out of her face with a luminous, dreamy light in them, which +distressed her practical, rosy-faced mother, who used to say that she +did not know where Elsie had come by "those ghaist-like eyes o' hers," +and as for those washed-out cheeks, "there was no accountin' for them +neither;" and the worthy matron would go on to narrate with what +abundance and amplitude Elsie had been ministered to all her life; and +yet Elsie glided about still and pale, with her large eyes shining like +precious stones, generally hungrily possessed by some book which she +held in her hand. She had an insatiable appetite for reading, and had +long ago exhausted the juvenile library attached to the church, while +the few books which comprised the forester's collection had been read +and re-read by her many times. The farmer librarian, who remained half +an hour after the congregation was dismissed on Sundays to dispense +books for any that might wish them, in the room behind the church, had +been obliged to give Elsie entrance to the shelves reserved for older +people, after she had exhausted the youthful library. It is not to be +supposed, however, that by this admission Elsie was allowed to plunge +chartless into light literature. The shelves contained only books of the +most sober kind, the lightest admixture being narratives of the +persecutions of the Waldenses and stories of the Covenanting struggles. +These Elsie read and pondered with intense interest, interweaving the +scenes in her imagination with the familiar places and people round her, +and living a far-away dreamy life of her own in the forester's cozy +little nest, while her active-minded, busy-fingered mother made her +cheese and butter, and reared her poultry, and was withal so very +capable of performing her own duties, that the forester sometimes +ventured to think, when Mrs. Gray complained of Elsie's "handlessness," +that seeing the mistress was so well able for "her own turn," it was +fortunate his little daughter chanced to be of a more contemplative +disposition. + +Mrs. Gray had heard from Margery of the Sunday class which her young +mistress had opened at Kirklands, and though, as the forester's wife +remarked, "Elsie had enough and to spare of schoolin' already," yet it +would only be a suitable mark of respect to the lady of Kirklands to +send her there on Sunday afternoons; and so it happened that Elsie +became one of Grace's scholars, sitting in the little still-room on +Sunday afternoons, her large tender eyes answering in sympathetic +flashes as the young teacher talked with the little company of those +wonderful days when the Son o Man lived upon the earth, or told them +some story of the earlier times of the world, when God's voice was heard +in the beautiful garden in the cool of the day, or when he guided his +chosen people by signs and wonders. + +In those days, however, the gospel tidings were not more to Elsie than +many another pathetic story which she knew, and served simply as food +for her imagination, though Grace's earnest words did throw a halo round +the familiar incidents which the daily reading of a chapter in the New +Testament had failed to do. Yet it was not till some of the sharp +sorrows of life had fallen upon Elsie that those words which she heard +in the still-room came with living power to her heart, and became to her +a light in dark days, a joy in sorrowful times, which nothing was able +to take away from her. + +And this was the little girl who used to knock gently at the door of +Granny Baxter's cottage every morning as she passed along the road to +school, arrayed in her pretty grey stuff frock, and with her snowy linen +tippet and sun-bonnet. Sometimes she found little Jean's round smiling +face peering against the peat-stack at the end of the cottage awaiting +her coming, for a great friendship had sprung up between these two, +though they were certainly very different in character. Elsie seemed to +have a brooding protective care over the little unkempt Jean, exercising +a sort of guardianship of her in the new life at school. She would often +come to her rescue when Jean sat pouting over a blurred slate, en which +she was helplessly trying to reproduce the figures on the blackboard, or +give her timely aid amid the involvements of some question in the +Shorter Catechism. It was Elsie who tied the bonnet-strings now, with +more dexterous fingers than Geordie's, and performed many similar kindly +offices besides; and little Jean was already learning from the +forester's daughter many habits of tidiness which her poor, failing +grandmother had not been capable of teaching her. + +Sometimes, on their way from school, the girls would find Geordie +perched on the paling of one of Gowrie's fields, while the cattle grazed +within the fences, watching for their coming to enliven a lonely hour +with their talk and news of school doings. His eye used to glisten with +pride and pleasure as he watched the little Jean appear, carrying her +books and slate, and already bearing many traces of civilising +influences. And it is not to be wondered at if his eye rested with +admiration sometimes on the sweet maiden, who was generally her +companion, and that he learnt to watch eagerly for the first glimpse of +the snowy sun-bonnet along the winding green lane which led from the +girls' school to the high road. Sometimes Elsie used to bring one of her +favourite books in her plaited-cord school-bag, and then the trio would +sit in a shady corner, where Geordie's vigilant eye could still keep +watch over his charge, while the little girl introduced her friends to +some of the favourite scenes of her ideal world. Elsie seemed to +understand, though she had never been told it in so many words, all +about Geordie's intense desire for knowledge, and to appreciate his +self-denial in remaining in his present post. And so it happened there +grew up in her mind a tender sympathy for all that he had missed, side +by side with an admiring belief in his character. + +How many thoughts and ideas he surely must have, she used to think, +after one of those meetings, when she took her solitary way home, after +parting with Jean, and remembered Geordie's remarks, which seemed to +throw new light on her favourite histories, and to touch with insight +all that was most beautiful and true in them. Often Elsie used to +delight the unvocal brother and sister by singing one of her hymns, +which for days afterwards would echo in some "odd corner" of the lonely +little herd-boy's brain. Sometimes, too, they discussed what they had +been hearing on the previous Sunday at Kirklands; and Elsie always felt +more interested in the lesson after hearing Geordie's gentle, reverent +talk. And to Elsie, who had neither brother nor sister, there was an +infinite charm in Geordie's devotion to his sister Jean, and his +unwearied anxiety for her happiness. She noticed, too, the tender, +chivalrous care with which he ministered to his old grandmother, never +wearying of her selfish, querulous ways, and sacrificing himself to her +smallest wishes. + +So it happened that a warm friendship sprang up between those three who +sat side by side in Grace Campbell's little school-room; and their daily +lives had become pleasantly interwoven during these past months. To +Jean, Elsie appeared the embodiment of all that was worthy of imitation, +from her snowy sun-bonnet to her gentle voice, both seeming equally +unattainable to the little girl. When Geordie returned to the village on +Saturday night, he used generally to hear from Jean some glowing +narrative in Elsie's praise, to which Geordie's ears were quite wide +open, though he sat bending over his books in the "ingle neuk" of the +cottage kitchen. + +When her idea of a winter at school had to be abandoned, Grace gave him +a few helpful class-books, and tried to direct his efforts to learn as +much as was possible; but, during the past year, her aunt's increasing +weakness and dependence on her companionship made it impossible for +Grace to give the boy such practical help as she would fain have done. +But Geordie had been fighting his own battle manfully, and had made more +progress than Grace guessed. + +Walter had first been telling her as they walked on the terrace +together, that the day before he had found Geordie busy with a geography +book as he tended his cattle, and how pleased he had been to hear about +the new lands Walter had seen. Like Elsie, Walter felt that, in +Geordie's mind, things seemed to gather a richness and an interest with +which his own impressions had not clothed them. + +"You've no idea how many queer questions the fellow asked me about +everything," continued Walter. "Indeed, Grace, I couldn't help thinking +how much more good Geordie would have got out of all the things and +places I've seen since I went away, than I have. And yet he's much too +clever for a sailor's life. What can we do with him, Grace? I really +can't bear to think of his drudging on as a farm servant to old Gowrie, +though he seems quite contented with the prospect," and Walter turned to +Grace, who glanced at her brother's kindly face with pleasure, though +not unmixed with surprise, that he should take such an interest in her +Sunday-scholar. + +Walter seemed to look on Grace's class rather in a humorous light when +he first heard of its existence on his return to Kirklands. And +presently he had begun to grudge that she should devote herself to it, +and thus deprive him of the pleasure of her society during the long +Sunday afternoons, when they used to be together in the old days. And, +in the midst of all her joy in having her brother with her again, Grace +had been feeling with sadness that there was as yet no response in +Walter's heart to those unseen, eternal things, which, in her efforts to +share them with the little company on Sunday, had become increasingly +vivid to her own mind. He used occasionally to rally her on her new +fancies, which he seemed to think quite harmless and suitable for a +girl, provided they did not cross his plans and fancies. + +One day, when he was on his way to fish, he had happened to meet +Geordie, who was herding his cattle near the stepping-stones. Geordie +was a clever angler, and could wile more trout out of the river than +most people, and Walter had been delighted with his information as to +the fishing capabilities of the Kirklands river. Since that day they had +always been friends when they chanced to meet. Walter could never see +the sun-bleached locks gleaming in the distance without crossing +whatever gate or field happened to lie between, and going to have a talk +with him; so the boys had seen much more of each other than Grace knew. +She had often been obliged to leave "Walter to solitary rambles, owing +to her aunt's, increasing dependence on her during her long illness, so +it happened that she felt some surprise when she saw Walter more moved +than was his wont as he eagerly discussed plans for helping Geordie. + +"I'll tell you what it is, Gracie," said Walter, in his blunt way, as +his quick eye detected Grace's slight surprise that he should have so +warmly espoused the cause of her Sunday-scholar. "You know I have seen +Geordie a good deal lately. We have had a lot of fishing talk, and all +that, and I like the chap--he's a first-rate fellow. I can't bear to +see a fellow so much better than myself trudging away behind those +beasts of Gowrie's day after day. And, besides, Grace, the fact is I owe +him something more than anything I may be able to do for him can ever +repay. It isn't every fellow, I can tell you, who would have had the +courage to say to me what he did," stammered Walter. + +"What did he say, Walter?" asked Grace, more astonished than ever. "I +thought you hardly knew more of Geordie Baxter than his name. You know +he is my favourite scholar. But it is a long time since I have had a +quiet talk with him. I well remember the first conversation we had, +standing on the stepping-stones near that bend of the river where the +birches grow." + +"Ah, yes, I know the place. It's curious, it was just about that very +spot I was going to tell you. I met him there, one day, not long ago, +and he happened to say that he had been asking Gowrie to stop sending +the cattle to that bit of pasture, because the stepping-stones made it a +thoroughfare, and that bull had been getting more savage lately, and he +could not always persuade people that it was dangerous to pass near him; +but Gowrie had said it was nonsense, and so forth. Well, you see, I'm +not very fond of old Gowrie, and when I saw how meekly Geordie submitted +to him, I felt provoked, and began to speak a little strongly, as we +middies sometimes do--swore, in fact. And if Geordie didn't make me feel +more ashamed of myself than ever I did in my life. You've tried your +hand on me before now, Gracie, and I'm sure you'll be glad to +hear--well, that I'm going to try to lead a very different life now." +Walter's voice faltered, and Grace looked at him with glistening eyes. + +After a few moments' silence, she said, "But Walter, dear, you haven't +told me yet what Geordie said." + +"Well, Grace, I hardly think I should like to tell you all he said. But +he came, and laying his hand on my shoulder, looked at me with those +earnest eyes of his. 'You've been very kind to me, Maister Campbell,' he +began, 'and it would be ill-done no to min' ye that ye are giving a sore +heart to your best Friend ye have by takin' his dear name in vain,' and +then he said a little more about it. I was so taken aback, Grace, I +could hardly believe my own ears. It must have required a lot of +downright courage to speak like that; there isn't a mid in all our crew +who would have ventured to do so. And yet I dare say I'm in for +something of the same kind when I go back again to the ship. For you +know I must be a 'good soldier,' Grace," added Walter, with a gentle, +fearless look in his eyes that carried Grace's thoughts back to an early +scene, when she stood in the crowded street in her nurse's hand, and +watched her father's face as he rode alongside his men to his last +battle. And as she looked at Walter's face, she remembered some old +words which say, "He that ruleth his spirit is better than he that +taketh a city;" and she lifted up her heart, and gave God thanks that +this young spirit, so dear and precious to her, had taken him for his +Leader and Lord. + + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +HOW GEORDIE'S HERDING DAYS CAME TO AN END. + + +It was a lovely autumn evening. The valley of Kirklands lay flooded in +the sunset glow. Its yellowing fields were tinged with warm-crimson and +purple, and the golden light shimmered on the trees and fringed the dark +fir tops. Never had her home looked more beautiful, Grace thought, when, +at last, the brother and sister turned to go indoors, after their +earnest talk. She stood leaning on the old carved railing of the steps, +taking one more glance at the peaceful scene before she followed Walter +into the darkening entrance-hall, when her eye caught sight of a stumpy +figure which she thought she recognised. + +It was little Jean Baxter, who hurried along the elm avenue as fast as +her short legs could carry her. She looked breathless and excited, and +when she came nearer Grace saw that she was tearful and dishevelled. She +hastened down the steps to meet her, wondering what childish grief +could be agitating the mind of the usually imperturbable little Jean. +When she caught eight of Grace, she threw up her arms with a loud, +bitter wail that rang among the old elms, echoing through their arching +branches, and startling the birds that had just gone to roost. "Oh, Miss +Cam'ell! Geordie, Geordie!--he's hurt; he's dyin'; Blackie's gotten hold +o' him." + +It was vain to ask anything more. Jean could only repeat her wailing +refrain, so taking the child's hand, Grace quietly asked her to lead the +way to where Geordie was, trying to quiet her bitter weeping by such +soothing words as she could muster in the midst of her own distress at +the possibility of any serious accident having happened to her favourite +scholar. But poor little Jean's sad monotone still rang mournfully +through the soft evening air as she trotted along by Grace's +side--"Geordie's dyin'; Blackie's got hold o' him." + +Grace, however, managed to learn from a few incoherent words that the +boy was lying, in whatever state he might be, at the river side, near +the stepping-stones. He had, that afternoon, taken the cattle, along +with the dangerous bull, to the heathery knolls, where Gowrie's careful +soul grudged that any morsel of pasture should remain unused. Geordie +had always been most careful in warning unwary passers-by of their +danger, for, though fearless enough himself, he still held that Blackie +was the "ill-natertest bull in all the country-side," and never felt +easy in his mind except when he had him within the fences of the upland +fields. He had once or twice tried to tether the animal near one of the +hillocks, but he saw that it made his temper more dangerous than ever; +besides, the little patches of green pasture were so scattered through +the heather, and had carefully to be scented out by discriminating +noses, that to have fettered poor Blackie to one spot seemed to him a +crying injustice, uneasy as he felt at his being able to roam at large +so near a thoroughfare. Geordie had never even allowed himself the +luxury of Jean's company when there were no fences to put between +Blackie and her. + +But that day the harvest holidays had been given at the girls' school. +There had been prizes distributed and an examination held which lasted +till evening. Elsie Gray had got several trophies of her diligence, but +the great and unexpected event of the day was that little Jean had +actually got a prize. She was nearly beside herself with ecstasy as she +clutched the gay crimson and gilt volume which was presented to her, +and resented that it should even for a moment be absent from her arms to +be admired by her companions. Then Geordie must hear about this +unexpected honour, must see and touch the treasure at once; and Jean +galloped off with the precious volume to the field where he was +generally to be found perched on the paling, awaiting their coming. +Elsie Gray followed, eager enough, too, to show her honours to the +boy-friend, whose golden opinions she dearly loved to win. There was a +pink flush on her usually pale cheek, as she glanced about in search of +Geordie when they reached the field, panting and breathless after their +race. But no Geordie was visible anywhere, and the field was quite empty +and tenantless. Then Jean remembered, what she had forgotten in her +excitement, that Geordie was to be herding at the hillocks to-day, and +so she started off to find him, forgetful that his present post was +forbidden ground. + +The girls were not long in reaching the stepping-stones, and presently +Jean was at Geordie's side, dancing round him with wild cries of +delight, as she flourished her gay prize in his rather bewildered eyes. +He had been lying with his face resting on his hands, on one of the soft +knolls of turf, looking at the sunset, and thinking of the new lands of +which he had lately been hearing from Walter Campbell. He seemed so +possessed by his own thoughts and reveries that he heard no sound of +coming footsteps till he looked up suddenly, and saw little Jean by his +side. He jumped up from the turf, and began to look wistfully towards +the river side to see if there was nobody else besides Jean coming to +enliven a lonely hour. + +Elsie had crossed the stepping-stones, and was moving towards the +hillock on which he stood, with her sun-bonnet in one hand, and her +heavy armful of shining prize books in the other with the golden sun's +rays falling on her. Her dusky hair was hanging rather more loosely than +usual, shaken out of its general smoothness by her hot face. The pale +face was all aglow with pleasure, and her large eyes looked radiant with +delight at the thoughts of the pleasure that little Jean's success, as +well as her own, would give to Geordie. The boy stood with his flaxen +hair all gilded by the sun, looking at her with a glad light in his blue +eyes. For a moment only, and then, with a look of terror, he glanced in +the opposite direction, remembering that this was dangerous ground. +Blackie had been roused from his sleepy grazing by little Jean's cry of +delight, and, looking up, his evil eye caught sight of Elsie, with her +bright colours, made more dazzling by the sunset tints. With a toss of +his head, and a few wild plunges, the brute, with his head near to the +ground, and his eyes fixed on his prey, made his way towards her. +Geordie shouted, "Back, Elsie; back on the stepping-stones!" but it was +too late. + +Elsie lost her presence of mind, and wavered backward and forward for a +moment, till it was impossible to save herself by taking refuge on the +other side of the stream, where Blackie, not knowing the advantage of +stepping-stones, would probably not have troubled himself to follow her. +In an instant Geordie had flung himself between the roused animal and +Elsie. His stick still lay on the hillock, where he had been resting, so +he had no weapon of defence, and Blackie, in his rage, would not spare +the faithful lad, who had spent so many lonely hours by his side. In +another moment, Geordie was lying gored and senseless on the heather. + +Elsie had reached the stepping-stones, and stood there transfixed like a +marble statue. Blackie might follow her now if he had a mind to, but he +had not. After a glance at Geordie, he plunged away with his heels in +the air through the heather, having an uneasy consciousness that he had +lost his temper, and treated a good friend rather roughly. + +As for little Jean, she had fortunately happened to be beyond Blackie's +range of observation; for it was on Elsie that his sole gaze had been +fixed, and he only vented his baulked fury on Geordie when the vision of +bright colours slipped away. Gowrie's ploughman happened to be passing +near, and had been a witness of the scene, though it was impossible for +him to give timely help. Elsie Gray, he noticed, was now safe on the +stepping-stones, and Geordie lying on the heather, with all the mischief +done to him that Blackie was likely to do. But the enraged animal might +attack somebody else presently, and the man thought the best service he +could render was to secure Blackie against doing further injury. Never +did repentant criminal receive handcuffs with more submission than the +guilt-stricken Blackie the badge of punishment. There was a subdued +pathetic look of almost human remorse and woe in the eye of the brute, +as he was led past the place where Geordie lay low among the heather. +The hands that had so often fed him and made a clean soft bed for him at +night, often stroking his great knotted neck, and never raised in unjust +punishment, lying helpless and shattered now, and the fair locks hung +across his face, all dabbled with blood. Elsie was now kneeling by his +side, but he was quite unconscious of her presence, and heedless of her +low wailing, as she looked wildly round to see if nobody was coming to +help Geordie, who had helped her so bravely. Little Jean had hurried +shrieking to the farm, with the news of the accident, and Mistress +Gowrie presently appeared, to Elsie's intense relief. She was a kindly +woman, and felt conscience-stricken as she kneeled beside the little +herd-boy; for she knew that it was not with his will that Blackie roamed +at large among those knolls. She had happened to hear his last +expostulation with her husband on the point; and this was how it had +ended. But she did not think he was dead. Elsie could hardly restrain a +cry of delight when she heard the whispered word that he lived still. +How joyfully she carried water in her sun-bonnet from the flowing river, +how tenderly she sprinkled it on his face and hands, and wiped the +bloodstained locks. + +And then old Farmer Gowrie came and stood with his hands behind his +back, and a shadow on his furrowed face, as he gazed on his young +servant with an uneasy stare. He kept restlessly moving backwards and +forwards to see whether the still motionless figure showed any sign of +life, till his wife reminded him that Granny Baxter was probably +ignorant of the terrible accident which had happened to her grandson, +and asked him to go and break the news to her. Little Jean had been +there before him, however; and Gowrie found the old woman crawling +helplessly along in the direction of the knolls, quite stupefied by the +terrible tidings that Jean had managed to convey to her deaf ears. The +little girl seemed possessed with the idea that Miss Campbell would be +sure to be able to help Geordie in this extremity; and so she left her +old granny to find her way alone, and had hurried away in the direction +of Kirklands to tell her sorrowful tale, meeting Grace, as we know, in +the elm avenue, after her eventful talk with her brother. + +They were already half-way to the stepping-stones, when Grace +remembered--feeling it unaccountable that, even in her anxiety, she +should have forgotten for an instant--that Walter must know what had +happened to Geordie--Geordie, to whom he owed so much. She felt that she +could not leave the little weeping girl to go on her way alone; but just +as she was standing hesitating what it might be best to do, she met one +of the dwellers in the valley, who promised to go at once and convey a +message to her brother, and then she and Jean hurried on towards the +fatal pasture lands. Before they crossed the stepping-stones which led +to the knolls, Grace could see a little group bending over a spot in the +heather; but no sound reached them through the calm evening air, except +the rippling of the sunset-tinted river, which rolled between. And so +Geordie was lying there gored, maimed, perhaps dying, as Jean persisted +in saying. Grace felt her heart sink with fear, lest the sorrowful +refrain should be true, as she crept silently near to the place where +the little company was gathered. But Geordie was not dead. + +"Here comes Miss Campbell," somebody said, and then the circle opened +up, and Grace caught a glimpse of her scholar lying very quietly among +the heather with his blue eye turned gladly to welcome his friend. + +"It was only a faint, after all,--and some bruises that will soon heal," +Mistress Gowrie said, in a tone of relieved anxiety, as she rose from +the turf where she had been kneeling to make way for Grace, who felt an +intense relief as she bent smilingly over him, and talked gently of the +danger past, with her heart full of thankfulness. + +When little Jean saw the happy aspect of matters, her grief gave place +to the wildest ecstasy of delight. Throwing herself down beside her +brother, she shouted gleefully, "Oh, Geordie, Geordie, ye're no dyin' +after all, ye're all right. I'll never greet again all the days o' my +life," was the rash promise which she made in her joy, remembering +Geordie's dislike to tears. Presently her thoughts reverted to her +treasure, which, in her grief, had been forgotten. It had been dropped +on the knoll when the accident happened, and Jean now bounded off +gleefully in search of it. + +A doctor had been sent for soon after the accident, but Geordie seemed +so well that old Gowrie already began to regret that they had been in +such haste in sending to fetch him. Presently Mistress Gowrie left the +knolls and returned to her usual evening duties, which she felt were put +sadly in arrear owing to this outbreak of Blackie's, and feeling truly +thankful that it had ended so fortunately. She invited old Granny Baxter +to have a cup of tea with her at the farm, which was a very great mark +of graciousness on the part of "the mistress," and extremely gratifying +to the old woman, to whom attentions of the kind came rarely. + +It had been arranged, also, by the farmer's wife that Geordie should be +moved into the "best bedroom" before the doctor came, and Granny +Baxter was filled with pride when she was shown the woodruff-scented +chamber, with its dark shining floor, and among other impressive +decorations from the farmyard, a waving canopy of peacock feathers above +the ancient chimney-piece, where Geordie was to sleep among snowy sheets +that night. But each time that they proposed he should be carried there +from his rough bed among the heather, Geordie pled rather wistfully, +"Just wait a wee while. I'm right comfortable here among the heather," +and once he added with a sad smile as he glanced at the farmer's wife, +"But I'll no be able to supper the beasts the night, Mistress Gowrie. +Maybe Sandy will look to them. Puir Blackie! give him a good supper; he +didn't mean any ill." + +Only Elsie Gray, of all the original group, still sat near Geordie, +where she could watch every movement, though she could not be seen by +him. She kept gazing at him with unutterable anguish in her eyes, and +only she detected the sharp spasms that occasionally crossed his face, +and felt his frame quiver with pain which he tried to conceal. + +"Miss Campbell," she whispered to Grace who was seated near her, "he's +very sore hurt, I'm sure of it. Oh, will the doctor no come soon!" and +when Grace looked into Geordie's face she began to share Elsie's fears. + +Presently Jean came bounding back in delight with her recovered treasure +to lay it in Geordie's hands. He looked at the gaily-bound book with his +most pleased smile, and then glancing at Jean proudly, he said, "Eh, +Jean, but ye'll be learnin' to be a grand scholar. I'm right glad ye +have got to the school." + +Then the eager little girl must needs have the book in her own hands +again, to search among the leaves for the illustrations which were +interspersed, so that Geordie might be introduced to all the beauties of +this wonderful volume. Geordie kept looking at her as she turned the +leaves with a somewhat pitiful gaze, and presently he said in a low +tone, "Jean, come a little nearer. I want to speak to ye, Jeanie. Do ye +ken I'm maybe goin' til the grand school the good Maister keeps waitin' +for us in the heavenly land? And I'll be learnin' a deal o' things there +that we canna learn down here," he added, with a smile; and then he +paused. + +Jean looked up from her boot with bewildered eyes as she listened to +Geordie's words; a grave expression came into her face, but the shadow +was only caused by her not understanding what he meant, for she knew +that Geordie occasionally went beyond her depth. + +"I'll no ever herd Gowrie's cows again, Jean, or wait at the fences for +Elsie and you. I'm dyin' Jeanie," he added in a hoarse whisper, as he +gazed sorrowfully at the little girl. + +There was no mistaking the meaning of these words, and little Jean, +dropping her precious book, burst into loud sobbing, as she flung +herself on Geordie. + +Grace had been watching the boy with a sinking heart, and a great fear +began to take possession of her that what he said might be true, as a +terrible spasm of agony crossed his face, and a groan of pain escaped +him. She looked anxiously to see if there was any sign of the doctor +coming, and taking little Jean aside, she told her that if she loved +Geordie she must be brave and quiet, even though he was so very ill, as +he seemed to think. Then she tried to speak some soothing words of +comfort, but little Jean wailed out with a fresh burst of sorrow: + +"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, why didn't God keep him from Blackie, if he loves him +as ye say? Ye mind how ye read to us in the Bible about him saving the +herd-laddie out o' the jaws o' the bear; oh, but, I think, he might +have taken care of our Geordie;" and poor little Jean would not be +comforted. + +"Where's granny?" Geordie had whispered, and Elsie rose from her post at +Geordie's head and flitted away like a little noiseless ghost to find +the old woman. She met her at the farm, where, having finished her cup +of tea, she was being shown some of Mistress Gowrie's feathered +favourites in the farmyard. + +"Mistress Gowrie, he's not better, as ye think; he says he's dyin', and +wants to see granny," Elsie said, with quivering lips, as she reached +them. + +"Dying, child, nonsense! what do you mean?" said the farmer's wife, +looking at Elsie to see if she was not dreaming. But Elsie looked +terribly wide-awake and sorrow-stricken, and Mistress Gowrie went off in +search of her husband. + +Then Granny Baxter began to perceive that there was something wrong, and +presently Elsie succeeded in making her understand, and began to guide +her slow steps to where her grandson still lay. Oh, how slow they were, +Elsie thought, as she glanced along the straight field path still to be +crossed before they reached the knolls, and thought of what might be +going on there. But had not Geordie wanted to see his grandmother, and +surely she might endure for him who had done so much for her? So the +little girl kept close by the old woman's side, who leant her wrinkled +hand on Elsie's shoulder, while, with the help of her staff in the +other, she hobbled along, with her eyes fixed upon the ground, groaning +and muttering about this terrible blow that seemed likely to fall upon +her. + +"Granny, granny, I've been wearyin' for you," said Geordie, holding out +both his hands, when at last Elsie's patience had guided the old woman +to the spot. "Oh, but I'm no able to make her hear. Nae words o' mine +can travel to her ear, and I had much to say to her," Geordie cried, +with a suppressed sob, as some terrible internal pain seemed to seize +him. + +The old woman had seated herself by his side, and her withered fingers +wandered trembling among his hair, as she moaned helplessly, "Oh, +laddie, laddie, what's this that's come upon us?" + +Suddenly, Geordie seemed to remember something, and, smiling brightly, +he feebly raised his hand to his jacket-pocket, and drew out the little +chamois bag, containing the slowly-gathered store of money with which he +intended to buy the ear-trumpet for his poor deaf granny. + +"I gathered the last sixpence yestreen, for holding the minister's +horse," he said, as he laid the bag in her hand, "It's to buy a thing +that makes deaf folk hear, granny. But she can't understand me, Miss +Cam'ell," he murmured, sadly, as he looked at Grace, who was leaning +over him; "and, oh, I would have liked well to tell her before I go away +about the Good Shepherd that you first told me about, Miss Cam'ell. I +dinna think she understands right what a Friend he can be to a body; and +I've always been waitin' till I got that horn for makin her hear to tell +her all about him, for it's no a thing that a body wad just like to roar +at the tap o' their voice. But you'll maybe speak to her some of the +things ye spak' to us, Miss Cam'ell. Ye'll have one less at the school +now, ye see," he added, smiling sadly; and then turning with a look of +tender pity on his grandmother, who watched him with wistful eyes, as if +she knew that his lips were moving for her, he said, "Oh, tell her to +listen to his voice, and let the sound into her heart. He was aye able +to mak' deaf folk hear, wasn't he, Miss Cam'ell?" said Geordie, with a +bright smile as he turned to his young teacher. + + +They had now got ready a sort of litter, on which they meant to carry +him to the farm; for Mistress Gowrie felt convinced that only more +comfortable surroundings and a visit from the doctor was necessary for +his complete recovery, and was resolved that no care of nursing on her +part should be wanting to atone for any past indifference to the welfare +of the little herd-boy with which she might reproach herself. + +Geordie, seeing her anxiety to perform this deed of kindness, at last +consented that they should take him from his lowly heather couch, and +carry him to all the comforts of the best bedroom at Gowrie. But each +time they tried to lift him the boy got so deathly pale, and seemed to +suffer so intensely, that even Mistress Gowrie was obliged to +acknowledge that it might be best to wait till the doctor came. Indeed, +it soon became evident to all that Blackie's blows had touched some +vital part, and Geordie's herding days were done. + +He lay for a little while with closed eyes, seeming thankful to be +undisturbed, and a silence fell on the group round him, not broken when +Walter Campbell joined it; for a glance from Grace, and a look at +Geordie's face, told him all. He stood there, in the freshness and +strength of his youth, looking at the ebbing life of the boy whom he +felt then as if he would have died to save. How he longed to tell him +of all the blessing his words had brought to his soul, of the life-long +gratitude which must surround his memory; but it was too late. Walter +felt that he could not disturb the passing soul with anything so +personal; but in the land where Geordie was going they would meet one +day; and he would keep his thanks till then. + +The silence had not been broken for several minutes. Poor little Jean +had been trying to keep very brave and quiet, since Grace explained to +her how much her noisy grief would vex Geordie. But Elsie, who had +returned to her post at Geordie's head, and was seated silently there, +now gave a smothered sob, which seemed to fall on Geordie's ear. He +opened his blue eyes, and looking wistfully about, said in a faint +whisper, "Elsie, I didna know ye was here. I saw you on the +stepping-stones just when I was meetin' Blackie, but I thought you had +been away home before now; it surely must be far on in the gloamin'. Eh, +Elsie, but I'll no be able to keep the tryst for the bramble gatherin' +wi' you," he said, in a mournful tone, turning towards her, and +referring to a long-planned holiday, when they were to go together to +search for brambles for Mistress Gowrie and the forester's wife's joint +jam making. "But, Elsie, speak to me," he continued, feebly, holding +out his hand, for he could not see her face where she sat, "We'll keep +our tryst in the bonnie land beside the green pastures and the still +waters ye often read to me about. Will we no', Elsie?" + +"Oh, Geordie, I can't bear it. Why did you no let Blackie get hold o' +me? Oh, Geordie, Geordie!" Elsie sobbed, as she crept round within sight +of the boy, and knelt beside him with clasped hands and lines of agony +on her face, that made the fair child look like a suffering woman. + +Geordie turned his dying eyes upon her with a look of mingled love and +sorrow, which none who saw it could ever forget; and stretching out both +his hands, he said, "Oh, Elsie, will ye no give me one kiss afore I +dee?" + +And Elsie lifted up her fair face, which had been covered with her +hands, and bending down, kissed the dying lips. Then, with a look of +unutterable gladness and contentment, Geordie closed his eyes as if he +was going to sleep. + +Walter Campbell turned away for a moment, for, as he afterwards told one +of his shipmates, "It was more than a fellow could stand, and he didn't +mind confessing that he hadn't stood it." Presently he hurriedly joined +the little group again, determined that Geordie must yet hear before he +went away how his faithful words had, through God's grace burnt +themselves into a wayward heart, and set a dead soul on fire. But he +found that another Voice was falling on Geordie's ear, which was closed +to all earthly sounds now; even that greeting to faithful ones which +bids them enter into the joy of their Lord. + +And so the poor bruised body did lie in Mistress Gowrie's +woodruff-scented best bedroom, and among her snowy linen, that night +after all, but Geordie was not there; his home was henceforth in the +many mansions of the Father's house. + + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +AN OLD FRIEND WITH A NEW NAME + + +"Now, children, here we are at Kirklands, at last," said a lady with a +pleasant voice, to an eager-looking group of boys and girls, who were +clustering round her, in a large open travelling carriage, which had +just drawn up in front of an old gateway, and waited for admittance. + +"Kirklands at last," was re-echoed among the little party. The two boys +seated beside the coachman glanced round at the occupants of the inside +seats, feeling sure that, their higher position secured them superior +information, and shouted in chorus, "Mamma, mamma, Kirklands at last." + +"As if we didn't know that as well as you do," shouted back Willie, a +curly-headed little fellow, seated beside his mother, who had a secret +hankering after the higher place of his elder brothers, along with a +desire to prove to them that their position was in no way superior to +his own. + +The old gates closed behind them, and the carriage bowled swiftly along +the smooth avenue, with its branching elms overhead. The pleasant vistas +of green, on all sides, were very grateful to the eyes of the young +travellers, wearied with miles of a white dusty turnpike-road, on a hot +July afternoon. They looked with delighted gaze on the new fair scene, +and thought what happy evenings they would have among those green glades +during the long summer days. + +But there was one of the party to whom this scene was not new, but old +and familiar, written over with many memories, some well-nigh overlaid +in the turmoil of life, but which flickered up with new vividness as she +looked on the calm sunlighted scene, and thought of other days. The +years had brought many changes to her, and it was with mingled feelings +that she gazed on this unchanged spot. Each grey-lichened rock stood out +from the mossy floor with a face that was familiar; all the little +winding woodland paths, she knew where they led to, and could take the +children to many a nook where wild flowers and delicate green ferns +still loved to grow, at they did long ago when she used to gather them +in these woods. + +"Seventeen years ago! is it possible?" she murmured, as she leaned back +in a corner of the carriage, and thought of the many leaves in the book +of her life which had been folded-down since she took farewell of these +green glades in her girlish days. And as she sits, quietly thinking, +while the little group round her are making the green aisles resound +with their merry laughter, we fancy, as we glance at her face, that it +is one we have seen before in this valley. The "stealthy day by day" has +certainly done its work; the outline of Grace's cheek is sharper than it +used to be, and the eager, speaking eyes have lost somewhat of their +fire, but there is a calm gladness in their gaze as she glances at the +joyous faces round her, that speaks of lessons learnt, and sorrows past, +during chequered days which have lain between the autumn evening, when +we saw her last, and this July afternoon, when she is coming with her +"two bands" to the home of her girlhood. + +Miss Hume, Grace's aunt, had passed away from this world during that +autumn seventeen years ago, and Grace had never revisited Kirklands +since. Walter, to whom it belonged, was still a naval officer. His home +on the sea had still more fascination for him than the inland beauties +of Kirklands, which had been left to strangers during the intervening +years. + +For some time past it had stood empty and tenantless, and Walter had +suggested that his sister, who had just come from a long sojourn abroad, +should, with her children, take up her abode there. Her husband, Colonel +Foster, was still on foreign service; and Grace, who longed to see the +old home after all her wanderings, had readily agreed to go with her +little flock and introduce them to the spot which was their dreamland of +romance, the historic ground of all the pleasantest stories in their +mother's mental library, often ransacked for their benefit. + +Mrs. Foster's servants were already at Kirklands, making preparations +for the arrival. The old rooms were being opened up once again, and +shafts of golden sunlight streamed through the long-darkened windows, on +the dark-panelled walls, as if to herald joyously the good news that +"life and thought" were coming back to the deserted house. + +As the carriage followed the windings of the avenue, the grey gables of +the old mansion began to peep through the green boughs, their first +appearance being announced by a jubilant chorus from the elder boys on +the box, which made little Willie feel painfully that his range of +vision was far from satisfactory. Presently, however, the timeworn walls +could be seen by all the party, as the carriage wheeled round the old +terrace, and the travellers reached the end of their journey. Then eager +feet began to trot up and down the grass-grown steps, and climb on the +old carved railing, where the griffins fascinated little Grace by their +stony stare, as they used to do her mother years ago. The long-silent +corridors began to resound with joyous laughter, as the merry party +rambled through the old rooms, wishing to identify each place with +historical recollections, founded on their mother's and Uncle Walter's +stories. And was that really the tree that Uncle Walter made believe to +be the rigging of a ship, and one day fell from one of its highest +boughs? And where used they to keep their rabbits, and in what room did +they learn their lessons? These, and such questions, were generally +asked in chorus, to which their mother had to endeavour to reply, as she +wandered among the familiar rooms with her merry boys and girls. + +"Mamma, do you know what I should like to see best of all? Two things, +mamma," whispered little Grace, as she caught hold of her mother's +dress. + +"And what would my little girl like to see--the toys mamma used to play +with when she was a little girl like Gracie? I believe I've carried the +key of the chest where they lie buried about with me all these years;" +and Mrs. Foster began to look in the little basket she held in her hand +for a shining bunch of keys. + +"It wasn't the toys I meant, though I should like to see them very +much," replied the little girl, who was more timid and gentle than her +brothers and sisters, and generally required more encouragement to +unburden her small mind, "it is the room where you taught Geordie that I +want to see--and Geordie's grave among the heather." + +Some quick ears had caught a name that seemed to be a household word, +and louder voices said, as the boy's clustered round their mother, "Oh +yes, mamma, do show us where you taught Geordie and little Jean." + +So Grace led the way through the dim passages that had once frightened +little Jean, and whose gloom now made the small Grace cling close to her +mother's side. The still-room was dark and unopened, for the servants +had not thought it necessary to include it in their preparations. Grace +went to the window and undid the fastenings, and the yellow afternoon +sun streamed on the dusty wooden bench where Geordie, and Jean, and +Elsie used to sit. + +The merry voices were hushed for a moment, and the children looked in +awed silence into the little room, as if it had been a shrine. + +After they had gazed long and silently, and their mother went to fasten +the window again, she said, "Children, we will come here and read God's +Word on Sunday afternoons, as the little company you know about used to +do long ago; and I hope you will all listen to the Good Shepherd's +voice, and follow it as Geordie did;" and presently the children trooped +quietly away along the dark vaulted passages. + +There was no faithful Margery now to be trusted with everything, and +able to put things straight in the twinkling of an eye, as her young +mistress used to declare she alone was capable of doing, so Mrs. Foster +had some unpacking and arranging preliminaries to superintend before she +could join her eager little party out of doors. But when tea was over, +and the sun had begun to scatter its orange and crimson tints over the +Kirklands valley, Grace thought she would like to take a stroll among +some familiar places before the darkness came. + +After lingering on the old terrace for a little, she gathered her boys +and girls round her, and said she was going to take them across the +park. She wanted to visit a place she remembered well, a pleasant angle +of a rising glade of birches, where she once stood mourning over the +traces of an uprooted cottage. But Grace knew that another home had +grown on the ruins of the former dwelling, and to it she bent her steps +now, for there was one of its inmates whom she longed to see. There was +something of the mingled feeling of interest and romance with which her +children wore viewing these now yet familiar scenes, in Grace's desire +to look on a face she had not seen for many years. Its image would rise +before her, chubby, smiling, and childlike, as of old; and then she +remembered the evening when she had first seen it tear-stained and sad, +as she crossed this path with the little fat hand in hers, as her own +Grace's was now. + +But Joan had not shed many tears since then. There was no happier home +in all the valley than the white cottage, over which the birch-trees +lovingly stretched their delicate fringes, her husband, the village +carrier, used to think when he came within sight of it, after his day's +journey was over, his parcels all delivered, and his horses "suppered" +for the night. Generally his bright-looking wife was hovering near the +door, waiting his coming with a little group round her as merry as the +one that was now making the woods of Kirklands ring with their +light-hearted laughter. + +Grace had not told the children that she meant to take them to see +little Jean that evening. She wanted first to go alone to the cottage +and see her quietly there, for she had many things to hear and ask. +Still, Grace had not been altogether a stranger to the home life there. +Sometimes a letter, written and addressed with laborious carefulness, +had followed her to remote foreign stations, and brought pleasant +memories of dewy heather and fragrant birches as she read it among +waving oleanders and palms. During all those years Grace had watched +over Jean's welfare, and many things in her pretty home told of her +thoughtful remembrance of Geordie's sister. + +[Illustration: Old Scenes Revisited.] + +The arrival of the family at Kirklands had taken place a few days +earlier than was intended, so Jean had not happened to hear the news, +and was all unconscious of the pleasure in store for her. How often she +had longed to see the "young leddy of Kirklands," as she still called +her, how many times she said to her husband that she would be sure to +know her anywhere, though it was so many years since she had looked +into her face. But now, as Jean sat matron-like with her sewing, in +front of her cottage, while her children played near, she wondered what +"strange lady" could be coming along the path. She called her straying +little ones to her, in case they should be in the way, but she noticed +that the stranger did not seem to think so, for she had just stopped +kindly to stroke one little flaxen head, and Jean, with a mother's +pride, felt grateful that "her bairn should be respeckit among the +rest." But when the lady, still holding the little boy's hand, began to +climb the mossy bank, and came towards her, Jean thought she had surely +seen that face before. Though not till Grace had smiled, and said, +holding out her hand, "Jean, is it possible you do not know me?" did she +recognise her old teacher. + +"Oh, Miss Cam'ell, Miss Cam'ell!" she said, with a cry of delight as she +dropped her mending and rose to meet her. "Is it really yourself? I +canna believe my verra eyes." + +And when Grace gazed questioningly into the serene, beaming face of the +little matron, she saw it had kept all that was best of its childish +lineaments, and felt with thankful gladness that Geordie's Shepherd had +not forgotten little Jean. Meanwhile the little loitering party came +along the road, and seeing their mother engaged in conversation beside +the pretty cottage door, they were eager to know who of all the old +friends she was talking to. Willie was the first to clamber up the mossy +bank and reach the cottage. The others were following, when he joined +them with an expression of mingled interest and disappointment on his +face. + +"I say Walter--Grace,--can you guess who mamma is speaking to? Well, +it's Geordie's sister,--little Jean." + +Then they all crept shyly near their mother while she talked at the +cottage door, glancing with interest at the inmate. But when little +Grace could find an opportunity she whispered in a tone of +disappointment, "Oh, mamma, is it really true what Willie says?" and +then she added with a sigh, when Willie's news had been confirmed, "Oh, +I'm so sorry; I do wish she could have stayed a little girl." + +Her mother smiled at the childish idea; but she presently remembered +that it was as the little herd-boy Geordie's image still lived in her +memory, though nearly twenty summers had come and gone since he entered +on that life in which earthly days and years are merged into eternity, +where the old and feeble renew their strength, and the young grow wiser +than the wisest hero. + +Grace's boys and girls had all to be introduced by name to the smiling +little matron, whose eye rested on them more or less appreciatively, as +she recognised a likeness to their mother or their Uncle Walter. + +Presently Grace turned to the little group, and said softly, "Children, +would you like to come to the knolls of heather on the other side of the +hill? I am going there now." + +"Oh yes, mamma, I want to go," chimed an eager though subdued chorus of +voices; and then the childish feet followed the two mothers as they +wandered slowly through the birch trees and crossed the path which led +to the stepping-stones. The water still splashed and gurgled noisily +round them, and the knolls of heather stretched with unchanged contour +on the other side. Beyond rose the white gables and thatched roof of the +old farm of Gowrie; but the former master and mistress were gone now; +and the young farmer, who had taken the lease, chafed considerably that +he had not been able to include the bit of heathery pasture lands in the +fields, seeing it had been previously secured by another tenant. It was +the only piece of land owned by Grace in the valley, and through all +these years of absence she had jealously guarded any encroachment upon +her territory. Old Gowrie had, at her earnest request, relinquished his +right to that portion of his domain in her favour, for he ceased to +wish to make it one of his economies to have his cattle grazing there. + +So it happened that though the pastoral valley had considerably changed +its face, and had much of its ruggedness smoothed away in the course of +years, this stretch of heather remained unreclaimed. It was still a +thoroughfare, but a very safe one now, for its only dwelling was a +grave. + +On the day after Geordie's death Grace had gone to see the last +resting-place destined for him in the little village churchyard. It was +a dreary patch of ground which looked as if the suns ray's never +penetrated through its high walls on the graves below. Crumbling +grey-lichened headstones peeped dismally from among the long dank grass, +and the little paths were overgrown with weeds. Everywhere there were +traces of unloving carelessness of the dead. And though Grace knew full +well that the silent sleepers below little heeded this selfish +forgetfulness, these surroundings sent a chill to her heart. She thought +she should like all that was left here of her boy-friend to lie in +pleasanter places. Far better he should rest underneath the heathery +sod among the pleasant breezy knolls, consecrated by many a heavenward +thought of the lonely little herd-boy, and by faithful words spoken in +an accepted time to a wayward brother's heart. So Grace made her suit to +the old farmer at a time when his heart was softened, and he was not +unwilling to part with a spot written over with a stinging memory. Miss +Hume, without even consulting Mr. Graham, had agreed to the transfer of +the land; and so it happened that Grace, like the patriarch long ago, a +stranger and sojourner in the land, held as a possession a +burying-place. + +The bright summer day had reached its dying hour when the little group +stood on the bank of the river. The yellow sunlight was merging into +deep orange and crimson, tinging with a wonderful variety of tints the +lower landscape. The rippling water looked as if a sudden cross current +of red wine had come flowing into it, and the little hillocks beyond, +golden with gorse, were steeped in the mellow light. + +The children followed their mother and Jean, with awed faces and hushed +voices, along the little gleaming sheep-walk, fringed by sweet wild +thyme and dog violets, with tendrils of deerhorn moss flinging their +arms across the path. At length they came on a little marble slab, by +the side of one of the knolls. The last golden shafts of sunlight were +stealing over its memorial words, and the young eyes read in silence:-- + + IN MEMORY OF + + GEORDIE BAXTER, + + Who went to the Fold above on the + 7th of August, 185--. + + "The Lord is my Shepherd; + I shall not want." + + +Presently, the silent group heard footsteps behind, and when Grace +glanced round she saw a woman, with two little boys by her side, coming +along the little path towards the headstone. She stopped suddenly when +she saw the strangers, evidently surprised by the unusual presence of +visitors in that unfrequented spot, and, turning down another path, went +away in the opposite direction. "Who is that, Jean?" asked Mrs. Foster; +"surely I have seen the face before." + +"Dear heart, do ye not know her? It's Elsie Gray. We dinna think, John +and me, that her bonnie face is much changed; but then we see it every +day," Jean replied, looking fondly after the retreating figure. + +"Ah, is it really Elsie? I was just going to ask about her, Jean. But +who are those children with her? I thought you told me in one of your +letters that she lived quite alone?" asked Grace, stooping down to pluck +a bluebell from Geordie's grave, instead of hurrying after this old +friend, as the little Grace expected her mother to do. + +Then the little matron went on to narrate how Elsie's home was still the +forester's pretty cottage, though her father and mother were both dead. +She had never been married, which Jean remarked was a great pity, and +hinted that a good many other people were of her opinion. But how the +parish of Kirklands could ever have got on without her if she had gone +away, or what life would be if she had not Elsie to go to in every joy +and sorrow, Jean could not imagine, as she said she frequently remarked +to "her John." Nobody's hands seemed to be fuller of helpful work, and +nobody did it more cheerily, than Elsie Gray. + +Then Jean explained that the two little boys were orphans whom she had +taken to her comfortable home; and "it wasn't the first pair o' laddies +she had made good for something," Jean added, admiringly. + +"Oh, mamma, don't you want to speak to her? She has such a nice, +beautiful face. Do let me run after her, and ask her to stop for a +minute," said little Grace, eagerly. + +Mrs. Foster glanced musingly across the knolls at Elsie's slender +figure, as she sauntered peacefully home with her charge, and then she +said, "No, my dear, we shall not trouble Elsie to-night; but I shall +take you with me to see her in her own home to-morrow, if you wish it. I +shall be going there." + +The cold, grey light was beginning to steal over the woods of Kirklands, +and the rosy tints that still hovered about the knolls would soon give +place to the gloom of night, so Grace gathered her little party, and +turned her steps towards the river. + +The merry voices, hushed for a time, began again to resound through the +still evening air, and the children went hurrying on with Jean, who had +told them she must be going home to see after the milking of her cows, +and cordially responded to their wish to join her at the process. + +So Grace had been following slowly, and when she crossed the +stepping-stones, she looked lingeringly back, for, with the sound of the +rippling water had come the remembered echoes of Geordie's voice as she +heard it first. Then she called to mind the chilly spring day when she +had started on the search, pronounced so hopeless by old Adam the +gardener, and how gleefully she hailed the unexpected appearance of the +little herd-boy. She smiled as she remembered the childish eagerness +that made her fear that he would not appear at Kirklands, as he had +promised, and his rather reproachful reply that he "Aye keepit his +trysts." And then there rose mingled memories of those trysts, which be +had so faithfully kept in the little still-room, of her own childish +incapacity for the work she had so longed to do, and of the sense of +failure that hung over it so long. + +And as she turned to follow her merry boys, who were clambering up the +mossy bank, where the silvery bark of the old birch-trees were still +streaked with rosy sunset hues, she felt how much she had learnt from +the tender, earnest heart of Geordie. + + "And comforted, she praised the grace + Which him had led to be, + An early seeker of that Face + Which he should early see." + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Geordie's Tryst, by Mrs. Milne Rae + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK GEORDIE'S TRYST *** + +***** This file should be named 12765.txt or 12765.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/2/7/6/12765/ + +Produced by Miranda van de Heijning and PG Distributed Proofreaders + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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