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excess of mental labouran excess which is as injurious as any
other kind of intemperance； the moral degradation alone kept out of
view。 Proud of his success； he sat down and wrote a short note；
with a simple statement of it； to David； hoping； in his secret mind；
that he would attribute his previous silence to an absorption in
study which had not existed before the end of the session was quite
at hand。 Now that he had more time for reflection； he could not
bear the idea that that noble rustic face should look disapprovingly
or； still worse； coldly upon him； and he could not help feeling as
if the old ploughman had taken the place of his father； as the only
man of whom he must stand in awe； and who had a right to reprove
him。 He did reprove him now； though unintentionally。 For David was
delighted at having such good news from him； and the uneasiness
which he had felt； but never quite expressed； was almost swept away
in the conclusion； that it was unreasonable to expect the young man
to give his time to them both absent and present； especially when he
had been occupied to such good purpose as this letter signified。 So
he was nearly at peace about himthough not quite。 Hugh received
from him the following letter in reply to his； dictated； as usual；
to his secretary； Margaret：
〃MY DEAR SIR；
〃Ye'll be a great man some day； gin ye haud at it。 But things
maunna be gotten at the outlay o' mair than they're worth。 Ye'll
ken what I mean。 An' there's better things nor bein' a great man；
efter a'。 Forgie the liberty I tak' in remin'in' ye o' sic like。
I'm only remin'in' ye o' what ye ken weel aneuch。 But ye're a
brave lad； an' ye hae been an unco frien' to me an' mine； an' I pray
the Lord to thank ye for me； for ye hae dune muckle guid to his
bairnsmeanin' me an' mine。 It's verra kin' o' ye to vrite till's
in the verra moment o' victory； but weel ye kent that amid a' yer
frien'san' ye canna fail to hae mony a ane； wi' a head an' a face
like yoursthere was na anena； no ane； that wad rejoice mair ower
your success than Janet； or my doo； Maggie； or yer ain auld obleeged
frien' an' servant；
〃DAVID ELGINBROD。
〃P。S。We're a' weel； an' unco blythe at your letter。
Maggy
〃P。S。 2。Dear Mr。 Sutherland；I wrote all the above at my father's
dictation； and just as he said it； for I thought you would like his
Scotch better than my English。 My mother and I myself are rejoiced
at the good news。 My mother fairly grat outright。 I gaed out to
the tree where I met you first。 I wonder sair sometimes if you was
the angel I was to meet in the fir…wood。 I am；
〃Your obedient servant；
〃MARGARET ELGINBROD。〃
This letter certainly touched Hugh。 But he could not help feeling
rather offended that David should write to him in such a warning
tone。 He had never addressed him in this fashion when he saw him
every day。 Indeed； David could not very easily have spoken to him
thus。 But writing is a different thing； and men who are not much
accustomed to use a pen； often assume a more solemn tone in doing
so； as if it were a ceremony that required state。 As for David；
having been a little uneasy about Hugh； and not much afraid of
offending himfor he did not know his weaknesses very thoroughly；
and did not take into account the effect of the very falling away
which he dreaded； in increasing in him pride； and that impatience of
the gentlest reproof natural to every manhe felt considerably
relieved after he had discharged his duty in this memento vivere。
But one of the results； and a very unexpected one； was； that a yet
longer period elapsed before Hugh wrote again to David。 He meant to
do so； and meant to do so； but； as often as the thought occurred to
him； was checked both by consciousness and by pride。 So much
contributes； not the evil alone that is in us； but the good also
sometimes； to hold us back from doing the thing we ought to do。
It now remained for Hugh to look about for some occupation。 The
state of his funds rendered immediate employment absolutely
necessary； and as there was only one way in which he could earn
money without yet further preparation； he must betake himself to
that way； as he had done before； in the hope that it would lead to
something better。 At all events； it would give him time to look
about him； and make up his mind for the future。 Many a one； to whom
the occupation of a tutor is far more irksome than it was to Hugh；
is compelled to turn his acquirements to this immediate account；
and； once going in this groove； can never get out of it again。 But
Hugh was hopeful enough to think； that his reputation at the
university would stand him in some stead； and； however much he would
have disliked the thought of being a tutor all his days； occupying a
kind of neutral territory between the position of a gentleman and
that of a menial； he had enough of strong Saxon good sense to
prevent him； despite his Highland pride； from seeing any great
hardship in labouring still for a little while； as he had laboured
hitherto。 But he hoped to find a situation more desirable than
either of those he had occupied before； and； with this expectation；
looked towards the South； as most Scotchmen do； indulging the
national impulse to spoil the Egyptians。 Nor did he look long；
sending his tentacles afloat in every direction； before he heard；
through means of a college friend； of just such a situation as he
wanted； in the family of a gentleman of fortune in the county of
Surrey； not much more than twenty miles from London。 This he was
fortunate enough to obtain without difficulty。
Margaret was likewise on the eve of a change。 She stood like a
young fledged bird on the edge of the nest； ready to take its first
long flight。 It was necessary that she should do something for
herself； not so much from the compulsion of immediate circumstances；
as in prospect of the future。 Her father was not an old man； but at
best he could leave only a trifle at his death； and if Janet
outlived him； she would probably require all that； and what labour
she would then be capable of as well； to support herself。 Margaret
was anxious； too； though not to be independent； yet； not to be
burdensome。 Both David and Janet saw that； by her peculiar tastes
and habits； she had separated herself so far from the circle around
her； that she could never hope to be quite comfortable in that
neighbourhood。 It was not that by any means she despised or refused
the labours common to the young women of the country； but； all
things considered； they thought that something more suitable for her
might be procured。
The laird's lady continued to behave to her in the most supercilious
fashion。 The very day of Hugh's departure； she had chanced to meet
Margaret walking alone with a book； this time unopened； in her hand。
Mrs。 Glasford stopped。 Margaret stopped too； expecting to be
addressed。 The lady looked at her； all over； from head to foot； as
if critically examining the appearance of an animal she thought of
purchasing； then； without a word； but with a contemptuous toss of
the head； passed on； leaving poor Margaret both angry and ashamed。
But David was much respected by the gentry of the neighbourhood；
with whom his position； as the laird's steward； brought him not
unfrequently into contact； and to several of them he mentioned his
desire of finding some situation for Margaret。 Janet could not bear
the idea of her lady…bairn leaving them； to encounter the world
alone； but David； though he could not help sometimes feeling a
similar pang； was able to take to himself hearty comfort from the
thought； that if there was any safety for her in her father's house；
there could not be less in her heavenly Father's； in any nook of
which she was as full in His eye； and as near His heart； as in their
own cottage。 He felt that anxiety in this case； as in every other；
would just be a lack of confidence in God； to suppose which
justifiable would be equivalent to saying that He had not fixed the
foundations of the earth that it should not be moved； that He was
not the Lord of Life； nor the Father of His children； in short； that
a sparrow could fall to the ground without Him； and that the hairs
of our head are not numbered。 Janet admitted all this； but sighed
nevertheless。 So did David too； at times； for he knew that the
sparrow must fall； that many a divine truth is hard to learn；
all…blessed as it is when learned； and that sorrow and suffering
must come to Margaret； ere she could be fashioned into the
perfection of a child of the kingdom。 Still； she was as safe abroad
as at home。
An elderly lady of fortune was on a visit to one of the families in
the neighbourhood。 She was in want of a lady's…maid； and it
occurred to the housekeeper that Margaret might suit her。 This was
not quite what her parents would have chosen； but they allowed her
to go and see the lady。 Margaret was delighted with the
benevolent…looking gentlewoman； and she； on her part； was quite
charmed with Margaret。 It was true she knew nothing of the duties
of the office； but the present maid； who was leaving on the best of
terms； would soon initiate her into its mysteries。 And David and