Part 3 (2/2)
”You were always telling me to keep my own counsel and share secrets with n.o.body.”
”I was not including myself in that order.”
”Father cannot bend either Donald's or my life to his wish.”
”It is your life-long happiness and welfare he is planning for.”
”G.o.d will order my life. That will content me. And G.o.d would not want me to marry Allan Reid, with his long neck and weak eyes, because I could never love him, and I suppose you ought to love the man you marry.”
”I believe it is thought necessary by some people. Allan will have lots of money, and in good time walk to the head of the biggest s.h.i.+pping business in Glasgow. He is a religious young man, always in kirk when kirktime comes, and I hear that he is also the cleverest of men in a matter of business. He'll be the richest s.h.i.+pper in Glasgow some day.”
”I shall never marry for money. Never! Never!”
”You'll never marry for money, won't you? Let me tell you, it is a far better way of marrying, in general, than comes of vows and kisses and all such gentle shepherding.”
”For all that, 'I will marry my own true love.'”
”When he comes, young lady.”
”When he comes! I think he will not be long in coming now.”
”Go away to your sleep. You're just dreaming with your eyes open. Good night, dear.”
”Good night; and 'I will marry my own true love,'” and, with the lilt on her lips, she went singing to her room.
Mrs. Caird sat down, completely perplexed. ”Here's a nice state of affairs!” she mused. ”I said but a few words about the young Lord, and, out of a woman's pure contradiction, she instantly made a graven image of him, and set him up in her mind to wors.h.i.+p. She was ready, though she never saw him, to defend him against her father's judgment. I could see that plainly. What kind of a girl is this? Never a thought of love did I give Andrew Caird until he said in so many words, 'Jessy, will you be my wife?' Time enough then to begin the wors.h.i.+ping. Well, Ian is going to have his hands and heart full with these two children, and I'll be getting the blame of it. And, of course, I shall stand by both of them.
I kissed that promise on my dying sister's lips, and I wouldn't break it for Lords, nor Commons, nor the General a.s.sembly of the Kirk added to them. I shall stand by both! There's no harm in Donald's opinions. I hold the same myself, and, what's more, I always shall hold them. Fire couldn't burn them out of me. As for Marion, if she wants to build her a little romance, why should I hinder? The girl shall have her dream, if it pleases her.” Then she slowly went upstairs to her room, and the Little House was still as a resting wheel.
CHAPTER II
LORD RICHARD CRAMER
”Souls see each other at a glance, as two drops of rain might look into each other, if they had life.”
”The cause of love can never be a.s.signed, It is not in the face, but in the mind.”
It was the Sabbath, and all its surroundings were steeped in that wonderful Sabbath stillness that not even great cities are without. The servants had put on with their kirk gowns the quiet movements they kept for this day, and, as they noiselessly prepared the breakfast, they talked softly to each other in monosyllables. Marion was used to this formality, and indeed was herself involuntarily affected by it. She stood hesitating on the doorsteps about a walk in the garden. Her feet longed for the soft lawns and the flowery paths, but she had not escaped the Sabbath thraldom of her house and native city.
”It might be wrong,” she mused, ”perhaps I ought to go to G.o.d's house and honor Him before all else. I must ask Aunt Jessy.”
In a few minutes she heard her aunt coming downstairs. Evidently Mrs.
Caird had forgotten that it was the Sabbath; she took the steps quickly, with some noise, too, and her face was happy; indeed, she looked ready to laugh.
”This is a heavenly place!” she said cheerfully, ”and here comes Kitty with breakfast. There's no wonder you stand at the open door, Marion.
Look at that little summerhouse. It is covered with jasmine stars. If you saw an angel resting in it, you would not be astonished.”
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