I wud wullin'ly hae seen oor Eppy
his wife; he's an honest lad! I'm sorry he gied place to wrath, but
he may hae repentit by the noo, an' troth, I canna blame him muckle
at his time o' life! It's no as gien you or me did it, ye ken,
sir!"
The chosen agonize after the light; stretch out their hands to God;
stir up themselves to lay hold upon God! These are they who gather
grace, as the mountain-tops the snow, to send down rivers of water
to their fellows. The rest are the many called, of whom not a few
have to be compelled. Alas for the one cast out!
As he was going home in the dark of a clouded moonlight, just as he
reached the place where he found lord Forgue, Donal caught sight of
the vague figure of a man apparently on the watch, and put himself a
little on his guard as he went on. It was Kennedy. He came up to
him in a hesitating way.
"Stephen," said Donal, for he seemed to wait for him to speak first,
"you may thank God you are not now in hiding."
"I wad never hide, sir. Gien I had killed the man, I wad hae hauden
my face til't. But it was a foolish thing to do, for it'll only gar
the lass think the mair o' him: they aye side wi' the ane they tak
to be ill-used!"
"I thought you said you would in any case have no more to do with
her!" said Donal.
Kennedy was silent for a moment.
"A body may tear at their hert," he muttered, "but gien it winna
come, what's the guid o' sweirin' oot it maun!"
"Well," returned Donal, "it may be some comfort to you to know that,
for the present at least, and I hope for altogether, the thing is
put a stop to.
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