And if you could see his
soul--that is as clean as clean can be--so clean it is quite
shining!"
"Have you seen it?" said the boy, looking up at Donal, unsure
whether he was making game of him, or meaning something very
serious.
"I have had a glimpse or two of it. I never saw a cleaner.--You
know, my dear boy, there's a cleanness much deeper than the skin!"
"I know!" said Davie, but stared as if he wondered he would speak of
such things.
Donal returned his gaze. Out of the fullness of his heart his eyes
shone. Davie was reassured.
"Can you ride?" he asked.
"Yes, a little."
"Who taught you?"
"An old mare I was fond of."
"Ah, you are making game of me! I do not like to be made game of,"
said Davie, and turned away.
"No indeed," replied Donal. "I never make game of anybody.--But now
I will go and find the letter."
"I would go with you," said the boy, "but my father will not let me
beyond the grounds. I don't know why."
Donal hastened home, and found himself eagerly expected, for the
letter young Eppy had brought was from the earl. It informed Donal
that it would give his lordship pleasure to see him, if he would
favour him with a call.
In a few minutes he was again on the road to the castle.
CHAPTER XI.
THE EARL.
He met no one on his way from the gate up through the wood. He
ascended the hill with its dark ascending firs, to its crown of
silvery birches, above which, as often as the slowly circling road
brought him to the other side, he saw rise like a helmet the gray
mass of the fortress.
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