Part 14 (2/2)

At length he was aware that the darkness had, un.o.bserved of him, grown weaker--that the approach of the light was sickening it: the dayspring was about to take hold of the ends of the earth that the wicked might be shaken out of its lap. He sought the long pa.s.sage by which he had come, and felt his way to the other end: it would be safer to wait there if he could get no farther. But somehow he came to the foot of his own stair, and sped up as if it were the ladder of heaven. He threw himself on his bed, fell fast asleep, and did not wake till the sun was high.

CHAPTER XIV.

THE SCHOOLROOM.

Old Simmons, the butler, woke him.

”I was afraid something was the matter, sir. They tell me you did not come down last night; and breakfast has been waiting you two hours.”

”I should not have known where to find it,” said Donal. ”The knowledge of an old castle is not intuitive.”

”How long will you take to dress?” asked Simmons.

”Ten minutes, if there is any hurry,” answered Donal.

”I will come again in twenty; or, if you are willing to save an old man's bones, I will be at the bottom of the stair at that time to take charge of you. I would have looked after you yesterday, but his lords.h.i.+p was poorly, and I had to be in attendance on him till after midnight.”

Donal thought it impossible he should of himself have found his way to the schoolroom. With all he could do to remember the turnings, he found the endeavour hopeless, and gave it up with a not unpleasing despair. Through strange pa.s.sages, through doors in all directions, up stairs and down they went, and at last came to a long, low room, barely furnished, with a pleasant outlook, and immediate access to the open air. The windows were upon a small gra.s.sy court, with a sundial in the centre; a door opened on a paved court. At one end of the room a table was laid with ten times as many things as he could desire to eat, though he came to it with a good appet.i.te. The butler himself waited upon him. He was a good-natured old fellow, with a nose somewhat too red for the ordinary wear of one in his responsible position.

”I hope the earl is better this morning,” said Donal.

”Well, I can't say. He's but a delicate man is the earl, and has been, so long as I have known him. He was with the army in India, and the sun, they say, give him a stroke, and ever since he have headaches that bad! But in between he seems pretty well, and nothing displeases him more than ask after his health, or how he slep the night. But he's a good master, and I hope to end my days with him. I'm not one as likes new faces and new places! One good place is enough for me, says I--so long as it is a good one.--Take some of this game pie, sir.”

Donal made haste with his breakfast, and to Simmons's astonishment had ended when he thought him just well begun.

”How shall I find master Davie?” he asked.

”He is wild to see you, sir. When I've cleared away, just have the goodness to ring this bell out of that window, and he'll be with you as fast as he can lay his feet to the ground.”

Donal rang the handbell. A shout mingled with the clang of it. Then came the running of swift feet over the stones of the court, and Davie burst into the room.

”Oh, sir,” he cried, ”I am glad! It is good of you to come!”

”Well, you see, Davie,” returned Donal, ”everybody has got to do something to carry the world on a bit: my work is to help make a man of you. Only I can't do much except you help me; and if I find I am not making a good job of you, I shan't stop many hours after the discovery.

If you want to keep me, you must mind what I say, and so help me to make a man of you.”

”It will be long before I am a man!” said Davie rather disconsolately.

”It depends on yourself. The boy that is longest in becoming a man, is the boy that thinks himself a man before he is a bit like one.”

”Come then, let us do something!” said Davie.

”Come away,” rejoined Donal. ”What shall we do first?”

”I don't know: you must tell me, sir.”

”What would you like best to do--I mean if you might do what you pleased?”

Davie thought a little, then said:

<script>