"
"The fact is simply this," resumed Donal: "I do not want the Morven
property. I thank God for lady Arctura: what was hers I do not
desire."
"But may it not be your duty to take it, Mr. Grant?--Pardon me for
suggesting duty to one who always acts from it."
"I have reflected, and do not think God wants me to take it. Because
she is mine, ought I of necessity to be enslaved to all her
accidents? Must I, because I love her, hoard her gowns and shoes?"
Then first Miss Graeme noted that he never spoke of his wife as in
the past.
"But there are others to be considered," she replied. "You have made
me think about many things, Mr. Grant! My brother and I have had
many talks as to what we would do if the land were ours."
"And yours it shall be," said Donal, "if you will take it as a trust
for the good of all whom it supports. I have other work to do."
"I will tell my brother what you say," answered Miss Graeme, with
victory in her heart--for was it not as she had divined?
"It is better," continued Donal, "to help make good men than happy
tenants. Besides, I know how to do the one, and I do not know how to
do the other. There would always be a prejudice against me too, as
not to the manner born. But if your brother should accept my offer,
I hope he will not think me interfering if I talk sometimes of the
principles of the relation. Things go wrong, generally, because men
have such absurd and impossible notions about possession.
Pages:
621
622
623
624
625
626
627
628
629
630
631
632
633
634
635
636
637
638
639
640
641
642
643
644
645