And the sooner you take yourself out of this, young man, the
better!"
"Good morning, sir!" said Donal, and left the room.
On the doorstep he met a youth he had known by sight at the
university: it was the minister's son--the worst-behaved of all the
students. Was this a case of the sins of the father being visited
on the child? Does God never visit the virtues of the father on the
child?
A little ruffled, and not a little disappointed, Donal walked away.
Almost unconsciously he took the road to the castle, and coming to
the gate, leaned on the top bar, and stood thinking.
Suddenly, down through the trees came Davie bounding, pushed his
hand through between the bars, and shook hands with him.
"I have been looking for you all day," he said.
"Why?" asked Donal.
"Forgue sent you a letter."
"I have had no letter."
"Eppy took it this morning."
"Ah, that explains! I have not been home since breakfast."
"It was to say my father would like to see you."
"I will go and get it: then I shall know what to do."
"Why do you live there? The cobbler is a dirty little man! Your
clothes will smell of leather!"
"He is not dirty," said Donal. "His hands do get dirty--very dirty
with his work--and his face too; and I daresay soap and water can't
get them quite clean. But he will have a nice earth-bath one day,
and that will take all the dirt off.
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