They call
things their own which it is impossible, from their very nature,
ever to possess or make their own. Power was never given to man over
men for his own sake, and the nearer he that so uses it comes to
success, the more utter will prove his discomfiture. Talk to your
brother about it, Miss Graeme. Tell him that, as heir to the title,
and as head of the family, he can do more than any other with the
property, and I will gladly make it over to him without reserve. I
would not be even partially turned aside from my own calling."
"I will tell him what you say. I told him he had misunderstood you.
I saw into your generous thought."
"It is not generous at all. My dear Miss Graeme, you do not know how
little of a temptation such things are to me! There are some who
only care to inherit straight from the first Father. You may say the
earth is the Lord's, and therefore a part of that first inheritance:
I admit it; but such possession as this in question would not
satisfy me in the least. I must inherit the earth in a far deeper,
grander, truer way than calling the land mine, before I shall count
myself to have come into my own. I want to have all things just as
the maker of me wants me to have them.--I will call on you again
to-morrow; I must now go back to the earl. Poor man, he is sinking
fast! but I believe he is more at peace than he has ever been
before!"
Donal took his leave, and Miss Graeme had plenty to think of till
her brother's return: if she felt a little triumphant, it may be
pardoned her.
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