And Love his pearly roof will rear,—
On cloud or land, or mist or sea—
Love's solid land is everywhere!
—ISABELLE VALANCY CRAWFORD.
The minister and his wife had been on a pastoral visitation to the Oa, and, having had an early tea at Long Lauchie's, were driving homeward.
The first snow had fallen a few days before and had been succeeded by rain, which, freezing as it fell, formed a hard, glassy "crust" on the top of the snow. This glimmering2 surface reflected the radiant evening skies like a polished mirror. The surrounding fields were a sea of glass mingled3 with fire, and the whole earth had become an exact copy of heaven. Away ahead stretched the road like two polished, golden bars that gradually melted into the violet and mauve tints5 of the dusky pines. Through the frequent openings in the purple forest they could see, far over hill and valley, a marvellous vista6, all enveloped7 in the wondrous8 glow, the patches of woodland looking like fairy islands floating in a sea of gold. Overhead, the delicately green heavens shone through the marvellous tracery of the bare branches. The horse's bells echoed far into the woods, the only sound in the winter stillness, for the whole world seemed silent and wondering before the beauty of the dying day.
The two travellers had not spoken for some time; the minister was lost in contemplation of the glorious night, and the minister's wife, alas9, was absorbed in a subject that had been worrying her for more than a month, the subject of Miss Isabel Herbert.
Before her visit at the manse had terminated, Mrs. Cameron had come to consider her invitation to that young lady as the great mistake of her hitherto well-ordered life. For no sooner had the guest been settled than that young MacDonald, who was such a friend of Mr. Monteith, began to appear with alarming frequency. Now, though there might have been no harm in Captain Herbert's niece playing in the backwoods with Big Malcolm's grandson when they were children, Mrs. Cameron mentally declared that, now they were grown up, such a thing as intimacy10 between them was absolutely out of the question. Miss Herbert, she well knew, would be horrified11 at the thought, and she set herself sternly to discourage the young man's attentions.
But she found this no easy task. One of her greatest obstacles was the minister himself. The good man had long yearned12 to bring Monteith and his friend into the church and now hailed Scotty's visits as special opportunities sent him by Providence13. To his wife's dismay he warmly welcomed the young man, pressed him to come again speedily, and was, in his innocent goodness of heart, as much a trial to his wife as Isabel herself.
And Isabel certainly was a handful. In Captain Herbert's niece one surely might have looked for a model, but the young lady did not conduct herself with the exact propriety14 her hostess expected. Mrs. Cameron was quietly proud of the fact that she had been very well brought up herself and knew what was due one's station in life. But Miss Isabel was an anomaly. She belonged to one of the best families in the County of Simcoe and had been educated in a select school for young ladies; but, in spite of these advantages, she would much rather tear around the house with the dog, her hair flying in the wind, than sit in the parlour with her crocheting15, as a young lady should. Moreover, if she could be persuaded to settle for a moment with a piece of sewing, at the sound of a horse's hoofs16 at the gate, or the whirl of a buggy up the driveway, she would jump from her seat, scattering17 spools18, scissors and thimble in every direction and go dancing out to the door, joyfully19 announcing to everyone within the house that here was "dear old Scotty!"
And yet, she was so charmingly deferential20, and, in spite of her high spirits, so anxious to please, that her hostess had not the heart to chide21 her. Her whole-hearted innocence22 had begun to disarm23 the lady's suspicions when, at the end of a week, the watchful24 eye noted25 signs of an alarming change in her troublesome charge. Isabel ceased entirely26 to mention Scotty's name. She did not talk, either, as had been her wont27, of the delightful28 times they had had together in their childhood. Neither did she run to meet him any more when he came, but would sit demurely29 at her sewing until he entered, or even fly upstairs when his horse appeared at the gate.
These were the worst possible symptoms, and Mrs. Cameron appealed to the minister. But he, good man, was not at all perturbed30. He saw nothing to worry about, he declared. Probably the young lady had discovered that she did not care for her old comrade as much as when they were children and was taking this tactful way of showing him the fact. Mrs. Cameron was in a state of mingled indignation and despair over such masculine obtuseness31, and vowed32 that if young MacDonald were not politely requested to discontinue his attentions to Captain Herbert's niece, she would feel it her duty to send the aforesaid niece home.
But the minister would consider neither project. When he had a man's soul in view everything else must be made subordinate. The young man was showing signs of an awakening33 conscience, he affirmed; he had displayed wonderful interest in the sermons lately and had asked some very hopeful questions during their last conversation. And beside all this the young lady was having a good influence on him, for the lad had missed neither church nor prayer meeting since she came. Indeed, she was a fine lassie, and wonderfully clear on the essentials; though, of course, she had a few unsound Anglican doctrines34. But Kirsty John's mother had trained her well in her childhood and she was not far astray. No, it would be interfering35 with the inscrutable ways of Providence to separate these two now, they must just let them be.
So Scotty and Isabel had things all their own way; and, when, at last, Weaver36 Jimmie and his wife came and carried the young lady off to the Oa, her late hostess declared she washed her hands of the whole affair.
But her guest's departure did not bring her entire relief from responsibility. She could not get away from the suspicion that Miss Herbert would blame her, and the rumours37 that came from the Oa were not calculated to allay38 her fears. Kirsty John's little lady from the Grange and Big Malcolm's Scot were always together, the gossips said, and indeed it was a great wonder the black colt wasn't driven to death.
So to-night Mrs. Cameron was too much worried to notice the beauty of the landscape. Nearly a month had slipped past since Isabel had left her; the Herberts had returned to the Grange, and still the young lady showed no signs of departing. The minister's wife looked out sharply as they approached Weaver Jimmie's place. If she could catch sight of her late guest she would delicately hint that propriety demanded that she go home.
As they entered a little evergreen39 wood that bordered Weaver Jimmie's farm, there arose the sound of singing from the road ahead.
A turn around a cedar40 clump41 brought into view a solitary42 figure a few yards before them—the figure of a little old man, wearing a Scotch43 bonnet44 and wrapped in a gay tartan plaid. It was a bent45, homely46 figure, but one containing a soul apparently47 lifted far above earthly things, for he was pouring forth48 a psalm49, expressive50 of his joy in the glory of the evening, and with an ecstasy51 that might have befitted Orpheus greeting the dawn.
His voice was high, loud, and cracked; but the words he had chosen showed that Old Farquhar discerned the divine in nature, a revelation that comes only to the true artist:
"Ye gates, lift up your heads on high;
Ye doors that last for aye,
Be lifted up that so the King
Of Glory enter may.
But who is He that is the King
Of Glory? Who is this?
The Lord of Hosts, and none but He
The King of Glory is!"
The minister smiled tenderly, there was a mist before his eyes when he paused to shake the old man's withered52 hand.
"Yes, it is a wonderful night, Farquhar," he said. "Truly the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament53 showeth His handiwork."
The old man smiled ecstatically, and after a halting greeting in English to the minister's wife, dropped into Gaelic. Mrs. Cameron did not understand the language of her husband's people, and while the two men conversed54 she looked about her. Kirsty's house was just beyond the grove55, Isabel might be near. A narrow, dim pathway led from the road across the woods to the house, an alluring56 pathway bordered thickly with firs, and now all in purple shadows, except when occasionally the golden light sifted57 through the velvety58 branches and touched the snow. Something was moving away down the shadowy aisle59. She looked sharply, it moved out into a lighter60 space and resolved itself into two figures going slowly, so very slowly, down the path in the direction of the Weaver's house. There was no mistaking Isabel's long, grey coat, or young MacDonald's stalwart figure. They paused at the bars that led into the yard, they were evidently saying good-night....
Mrs. Cameron did not wait even to take off her bonnet, upon her return home, before sitting down to write Miss Herbert, of the Grange, a letter, a letter which evidently alarmed the recipient61, for before many days Miss Isabel packed her trunk with a very sober face and took her leave.
It was partly this sudden manner of her departure that made Monteith resolve to visit his friends at Lake Oro. He wanted to see Captain Herbert on important business—business which, he felt, had been too long delayed, and besides he was anxious to discover, if possible, what the people of the Grange had done to offend Ralph on the day he had taken Isabel home.
That he had been mortally offended by someone Monteith could not help seeing; but whether by Isabel herself, or another, Scotty's reticence62 prevented his discovering.
"I'm going up to the Captain's to-morrow," he remarked casually63, as he sat and smoked by Big Malcolm's fire one evening. He glanced at Scotty, and that young man arose and began to cram64 the red-hot stove with wood, until his grandfather shouted to him that he must be gone daft, for was he wanting to roast them all out?
"Oh, indeed," said Mrs. MacDonald, suspending her knitting with a look of pleased interest. "And you will be seeing the little lady. Eh, it is herself will be the fine girl, not a bit o' pride, with all her beautiful manners and her learning, indeed."
"She will be jist the same as when she used to run round this house in her bare feet with Scotty," declared Big Malcolm enthusiastically. "It is a great peety indeed that she will belong to that English upstart!"
Scotty had settled down in deep absorption to whittle65 a stick and was apparently taking no notice of the conversation.
Monteith regarded Big Malcolm curiously66. He had been long enough in the settlement to understand that the ordinary pioneer had no love for the more privileged class that had settled along the waterfronts. Socially the latter belonged to a different sphere from the farmers; and having often been able, in the early days, to secure from the Government concessions67 not granted to all, they were regarded by the common folk with some resentment68. But the difference between the two classes, like all other differences, was fast dying out, and the schoolmaster well knew that Big Malcolm had other and deeper reasons for his dislike of a man so popular as Captain Herbert. He longed to know, before he visited the Grange, just how much his friend had sinned against the old man.
"Oh, I suppose he's no worse than many of his kind," he said tentatively.
"Aye, but that is jist where you will be mistaken," said Big Malcolm, a dangerous light beginning to leap up in his eye. "If this place would be knowing the kind of a man he is, indeed it would not be Parliament he would be thinking about next fall, but——" He stopped suddenly. "Och, hoch, the Lord forgive me, and he will be your friend, too, Mr. Monteith," he added hastily, with a return of his natural courtesy. "Indeed I would be forgetting myself."
"Why does your grandfather hate the Captain so?" inquired Monteith, as Scotty walked with him to the gate.
"I'll not know," said Scotty morosely69. "I think they had some quarrel long ago, about land or something, when they came here first."
"And did he never give any hint of what the trouble was?"
"Not to us boys. It was one of those things he would always be fighting against, and Granny kept him back, too. He would be often going to speak of the Captain, when she would stop him." Scotty's tone was gloomy. This last surviving feud70 of his warlike grandfather weighed heavily upon his soul. For, indeed, matters had gone sadly wrong in Scotty's world lately, and life was proving a very hard and sordid71 business.
Monteith said no more, but the next morning he set off for his friend's house, determined72 to settle once for all those questions which had been troubling him ever since he had learned that young Ralph Stanwell lived. Something must be done with Ralph, and that right away. He had taught him as far as he could, and the boy must not be allowed to waste his talents in the backwoods.
The Grange, Captain Herbert's residence on the shore of Lake Oro, was a different building from the homes of the people among whom the schoolmaster lived; for its owner belonged to the fortunate class for whom life during the early settlement of the country had been made easy by money and political influence.
The house, a long, low, white stone building with plenty of broad verandahs, stood close to the water's edge, sheltered by a stately oak grove. It was surrounded by wide lawns and a garden, all now covered with their winter blanket.
As Monteith went up the broad, well-shovelled path, a crowd of dogs of all sizes came tearing round the house from the rear with a tumult73 of barking. He stooped to fondle a little terrier, and when he looked up the master of the house was coming down the steps with outstretched hands.
"By Jove, Archie!" he cried, his face shining with pleasure, "I'd almost come to the conclusion that the Fighting MacDonalds had eaten you alive! Why, we haven't seen you since October, and I've been blue-moulding for somebody to talk to. Well, I am glad to see you. Get down, you confounded brute74! Come in. Come in. Why, you certainly are a stranger. And just at the right moment, too! I'm all alone. Brian drove Eleanor and Belle1 to Barbay this morning. Get out, you infernal curs! Those dogs all ought to be shot!"
And so, talking loud and fast, as was his manner, the hearty75 Captain led the way into the house. A small room at the left of the hall, with two windows looking out upon the ice-bound lake, constituted the Captain's private den4. A bright wood fire blazed in the open grate. The host drew up a couple of arm-chairs before it.
"So you've decided76 to immure77 yourself in the backwoods for another year, I hear," he said, when his guest was comfortably seated and supplied with a cigar. "Come, Archie, this will never do. Two years was the limit you set when you took the school, and there's no more the matter with you than there is with me. You're actually getting fat, man!"
"Why, I do believe I am," said the other apologetically. "I shall probably grow corpulent and lazy, and settle down in Glenoro to a peaceful old age."
"Not a bit of you! You look like a new man, and you ought to get back to your law books."
Monteith drew his hand over his grey hair with a meaning smile. "It seems rather foolish at my age, but I believe I shall; the Oro air has really made a new man of me, as you say. I believe I should have gone long ago if I hadn't been interested in a certain young person there."
"A young person! Thunder and lightning, Archie, don't tell me you've gone and fallen in love!"
Monteith laughed. "Upon my word I believe I have," he asserted, "but don't look so aghast, the object of my devotion is six feet high, and is cultivating a moustache."
"Oh, that young MacDonald chum of yours. You gave me quite a shock." The guest noticed that his friend's face changed at the mention of Scotty; there was a moment's rather awkward silence.
"So the ladies are away," said Monteith at last. "I am unfortunate."
Captain Herbert burst into a hearty laugh. "Why, bless my soul, you've had the escape of your life! Eleanor has it in for you, for shifting your responsibility and sending little Bluebell78 home with your young MacDonald; an uncommonly79 handsome young beggar he is too, with the airs of a Highland80 chieftain, quite the kind calculated to be dangerous, Eleanor thinks. I'm afraid she wasn't as cordial to the boy as she might have been, and probably lost me a couple of good MacDonald votes."
Monteith looked enlightened. "Why, I must apologise," he said, "but I did not dream I was transgressing81. Miss Herbert surely knows that they have been like brother and sister since their baby days?"
"Oh, that's just the trouble. Eleanor's scared they're not going to remain like brother and sister. She and your minister's wife down there have got it into their busy heads that the little monkey's inclined to think too much about this old chum of hers. Bluebell's the right sort, I assure you, Archie, never forgets an old friend. Harold's just the same. Every time he writes he sends his love to every old codger that chopped down a tree on this place. It's a fine quality. It's Irish. We get it from my mother's side, though I'm more English than Irish myself, praise the Lord. Well, it seems this loyalty82 is out of place in this case, and Eleanor thinks the less Belle sees of this young man the better. All perfect bosh and unthinkable nonsense, you know; but you can never account for the mental workings of some people. A woman's mind picks up an idea, particularly if it concerns matrimony in the remotest degree, as a hen does a piece of bread, and runs squawking all round this earthly barnyard advertising83 the matter until she convinces herself and all the rest of the human fowl84 that she's got a whole baking in her bill. Eleanor has snatched up some such notion about Isabel and this young MacDonald, and the youngster hardly out of short dresses yet! But there it is. She'll never let go. All rubbish!"
He burst into a hearty laugh, and poked85 the fire until it crackled and roared. "Now, Archie, what sort of figure do you think I shall cut running for Parliament next fall? Think the Oa 'll run me off the face of the earth?"
"Just one moment, Captain, before you leave this subject, and we'll talk politics all day afterwards. Far be it from me to even glance into the dark mysteries of matchmaking, but I'd like to know why Miss Herbert should object so strongly to my young friend on so short an acquaintance?"
Captain Herbert looked surprised. He drew himself up with a slight access of dignity. "Oh, come now, Monteith!" he exclaimed, "you are surely worldly wise enough to understand that, though this young Scotty may be the most exemplary inhabitant of that excellent section where you teach, he would scarcely be a match for my niece."
"I understand perfectly86. And if Ralph were one of the ordinary young men of the place I should most heartily87 agree with you. But you don't know him. He is an exceptionally fine fellow; he has had as much education as I have been able to guide him to since I came here, and indeed he is a thorough gentleman at heart."
Captain Herbert shrugged88 his shoulders. "I suppose that's all true, but what difference does that make? You don't want me to offer him my niece, I hope."
"Then I suppose you know he's the equal in birth to anyone in this part of the country. You know, of course, that his name is not really MacDonald?"
Captain Herbert seized the poker90 and attacked the fire again. He seemed waiting for Monteith to proceed, but as he did not, he answered rather shortly, "So I believe."
There was a long silence. The host sat back again, swung one foot over the other impatiently, and at last turned upon his silent companion.
"Go on!" he cried. "Out with it! I know what you want to say!"
Monteith slowly turned his eyes from the fire and looked into his host's face.
"I don't want to say anything disagreeable, Captain," he said courteously91.
Captain Herbert arose and walked to the window.
"I knew this would come some day, when I saw you were getting so infernally chummy with all the MacDonald clan92. That dear friend of mine, old Firebrand Malcolm, has been telling you tales, I see."
"On the contrary, he has scarcely ever mentioned your name to me. Big Malcolm is not that sort," said Monteith, with some dignity. "But it was impossible for me not to remember Ralph Stanwell, Senior; it all came to me the moment the boy told me his name."
There was a moment of intense silence, and at last the man turned from the window.
"Well," he said, coming to the fireside, "why don't you speak? What have you got to say about it?" His manner was half-defiant.
"I don't know that you'll think it's my place to say anything, Captain. But—well, since you ask my opinion, I must confess that, though I am not in possession of all the facts, the thing does not look exactly—straight."
Captain Herbert glared at him. "You are the only man in Ontario who would dare to say that to me, Archibald Monteith!" he cried.
Monteith arose, smiling. "Well, Captain, be thankful you have at least one honest friend in Ontario. And," he added, with a sudden change of tone, "look here, I haven't come to you about this in anger. I am Ralph's friend, but I am yours, too, and have many debts of kindness owing you. But, honestly now, is it or is it not true that you jumped a claim and appropriated the boy's property, perhaps unwittingly?"
"It was unwittingly, Archie," burst out the other, with a look of relief. "I know the affair must look nasty to you; but, as sure as I stand here, I didn't know the child was alive until he was nearly seven years old."
"That old fire-eater! If he hadn't been such a maniac94, I should never have made the mistake I did. I tell you the whole thing was misrepresented to me. Stanwell and his wife and, as I was told, his child too, died just before I landed here. This property of his was partially95 cleared, but was represented to me as totally unclaimed. You know that as well as I do. Don't you remember the day I left Toronto to come up here? Well, after I had spent hundreds of dollars on the place that old Lord of the Isles96 got wind of it away back there in the bush, and came down on me like a deposed97 king. He talked so loud and so fast, and half of it in Gaelic, that I paid no attention to him, and at last ordered him off the place. My brother Harold had been instrumental in getting the place for me, so I wrote him and asked if it was possible that anyone connected with Captain Stanwell could have any claim on my property. He wrote back to say that Stanwell and everyone belonging to him were dead, but that he would come up soon and see about it. Well, you know he died the next week, and little Bluebell was left to me. Those were hard times for me, Archie, as you know. Maud was taken next, and I was left alone with two helpless children on my hands and my finances in the very deuce of a state. I forgot all about everything but the troubles that had come upon me. Then I sent for Eleanor to look after my family, and after she came I had other reasons you know nothing about for keeping silent concerning Captain Stanwell. And so the years slipped away, and there it is, you see. If I had given up the property when I settled here first I should have been almost destitute98. Now, I ask you, is there any living man could blame me?"
Monteith answered warily99. "There are not many men who would have acted differently in your place, I fear, only—it's rather hard on the boy."
"Pshaw, I don't believe the boy's claim was worth a brass100 farthing. If it was, why couldn't his old grandfather have gone to law about it?"
Monteith shook his head. "You don't know those Highlanders; they would sooner be bereft101 of every stick or stone they possess than enter a law court. Besides, you can't deny, Captain, that even had Big Malcolm wished to take such measures, he well knew that in those days a man of his class hadn't much chance against one of yours."
Captain Herbert tramped up and down the little room. Monteith sat silent, waiting. He was able to guess with some degree of accuracy the workings of his friend's mind. Captain Herbert was a man who believed in letting circumstances take care of themselves, particularly if they were of the disagreeable variety; but he would willingly do no man a wrong; and Monteith well knew that his warm heart was a prey102 to regret, and he was therefore full of hope for Ralph. But the Captain had a stormy journey to traverse before arriving at any conclusion.
"If the matter were taken into a law court now, no fool would say for a moment that I wasn't the owner of this place after all these years. It was a howling wilderness103 when I came here."
"But a court might say you were under some obligation to that boy, Captain."
"Nonsense! Do you want me to present him with a deed of all my property?"
"Not at all, but I want you to act fairly by him, as I am sure you will."
The steady tramp ceased at last, and as Monteith had expected his host came and stood before the fire.
"It's a mean business, the whole thing, I know, Archie; and I've hated the thought of it all these years. But what could I do? It was too late to mend matters when I found my mistake."
"It's never too late to mend," quoted the imperturbable104 guest. "And you're comfortably well off now, Captain, with that last legacy105."
Captain Herbert evidently did not hear him. "I'm sorry about that boy," he said, staring into the grate with brows knit, "I'm truly sorry."
Monteith felt that now was his opportunity, and he put Scotty's case forward strongly. He was careful not to press the boy's legal claims, but made much of the moral obligation. Here was a young man with marked ability and no worldly resources, his high ambitions fettered106 by poverty. He had already spent two winters in the lumber107 camps; he was getting to be a famous river pilot, and, as matters stood, there seemed nothing better ahead of him. Ralph was a youth who would probably make his way in the world somehow, but just now he needed a helping108 hand. A little assistance at present would make his fortune, and who so fitted to give that assistance as Captain Herbert?
The appeal was received in silence. Captain Herbert sat, his brows drawn109 together, his eyes fixed110 upon the fire. "There's another reason, stronger than any you suspect for my sister's antipathy111 for the young man," he said suddenly without looking up. Monteith's eyebrows112 rose.
"It is a very unpleasant subject to refer to, but it seems necessary that you should know. When Captain Stanwell came to this country he was engaged to marry my sister. He came out here, presumably to make a home for her. A pretty face among the emigrants113 took his fancy, and he married shortly after he landed. So you may imagine I am not likely to have any warm feeling for the rascal's son."
Monteith sat staring. He had come to represent Scotty's righteous cause, to uphold him as the wronged, and here were the tables turned upon him.
"All these years, Eleanor never dreamed that the child lived. Indeed, I am not sure that she knew Stanwell had a child, and of course she never guessed who little Bluebell's Scotty was. And I naturally didn't see any reason for enlightening her. She nearly discovered it once, the first time I saw the boy. But when he brought Bluebell here she saw the resemblance at once—he's the image of his father—she asked him his name, and it all came out, and you can imagine the scene. She sent him off, and ordered the youngster never to speak to him again, and the poor little monkey's been fairly sick over it. There couldn't possibly be anything between them, but she liked him; they were chums. Now don't you see how difficult it is for me to show him any kindness, even if I wanted to? And I'm sure I don't owe his scoundrel father much consideration, anyway."
The ambassador had nothing to say. Scotty's chances for redress114 were very poor. He looked into the fire in deep disappointment. Monteith was not a religious man, but at that moment he remembered vaguely115 a passage from the Bible about the fathers having eaten sour grapes and the children's teeth being set on edge.
But for all his talk, Captain Herbert had not settled the affair to his own satisfaction. He was blustering116 up and down the room again, trying to work off his Indignation against fate. He paused once more in front of his visitor.
"I tell you what, Archie," he cried for the fifth time, "I hate the whole business. It's been grinding at me for nearly fifteen years. I've got a son of my own about that boy's age. His mother died when he was a baby, and he's everything to me; and when I think that if I had been taken too, he might have fared badly,—well—it's—— Look here, what kind of ability has young Stanwell?"
"Well,"—the Captain was thoughtful—"what does he want?"
"He wants a chance to earn some money in a hurry so that he can go to college. He's determined to get an education, but the money isn't forthcoming."
"Well, if I should see him through——"
Monteith shook his head smilingly. "He wouldn't accept it. You must remember, the boy has the real old Highland pride. No, give him some position where he can earn some money, or think he is earning it, in a short time."
"You're a Jew at a bargain, Archie Monteith, and a Scotch Jew, at that, which is the worst kind. What sort of aptitude118 would he have for figures?"
"He seems to display a special aptitude for almost anything he undertakes."
"Well,—I might,—pshaw, why not? Eleanor needn't know. There's Raye & Hemming119. They want a young man in their office. It means a responsible position, though, Archie, with good pay, and I'm depending entirely upon your recommendation. He ought to know something about lumber surely."
"Raye & Hemming!" Monteith started. "I'd be delighted to see the boy get such a good opportunity, but the name of that particular lumber company isn't absolutely synonymous with fair-dealing. Remember, Ralph's been very strictly120 brought up, Captain."
"Pshaw, they're supposed to muddle121 a little with politics, but what's the difference? If your paragon122 is so squeamish you'd better keep him in the bush. I can't think of anything else I could do for him half so good. Those fellows are sharp, I'll admit, but they know how to make money."
Monteith considered for a moment, then stood up and held out his hand. "I knew you would do the square thing, Captain," he said heartily.
"Well, to be honest, I confess I'm not entirely disinterested123. That young Carruthers the Grits124 are bringing out will be sure to rake up this story if I run next fall; and those MacDonalds are double-dyed Grits already. I don't want to give them a handle against me. Young Stanwell will make a better friend than an enemy. I can clear my tender conscience and get him out of the road, and save myself a great deal of future trouble all in one stroke. So there you are, you see."
Monteith laughed. There was something irresistible125 about the candour of the man.
"He certainly is an Irishman all through," was the Scotchman's mental comment.
"And by the way, Archie, does he know anything about this?"
"Not a word. Big Malcolm never told anybody, I fancy. That's a gentleman for you!"
Captain Herbert looked slightly embarrassed.
"I suppose you'd better tell the boy—everything?"
"I think it would be better. He's very fair-minded, and, besides," Monteith smiled, "he is not likely to feel any resentment against Miss Isabel's uncle."
"That brings up a very important item in our bargain," said the Captain frowningly, "and one upon which everything depends."
"Yes?"
"He'll have to understand that there's to be nothing between him and Bluebell. It seems absurd to talk about such a thing already, but Eleanor seems certain of danger. So you'll have to put the matter plainly to the young man, and explain that if he's so much as caught speaking to her, his position is gone as quick as a gunshot. I owe that much to my sister. She couldn't stand the sight of him, and neither of the youngsters is old enough to be hurt."
Monteith looked dubious126, but he did not hesitate to comply. Ralph would soon forget when he got away into the world, he told himself, and Miss Herbert would probably make the keeping of the bargain very easy for him.
"And now," cried Captain Herbert, rising with an expression of relief, "that's over. It's been an abominable127 tangle128 all through, a perfect mess, with everyone in the family mixed up in it, and it's a relief to have it settled. Come along, let's go out and breathe some fresh air and look at the dogs!"
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belle
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| n.靓女 | |
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glimmering
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| n.微光，隐约的一瞥adj.薄弱地发光的v.发闪光，发微光( glimmer的现在分词 ) | |
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mingled
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| 混合，混入( mingle的过去式和过去分词 )； 混进，与…交往[联系] | |
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den
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| n.兽穴；秘密地方；安静的小房间，私室 | |
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5
tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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6
vista
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| n.远景，深景，展望，回想 | |
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enveloped
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| v.包围，笼罩，包住( envelop的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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8
wondrous
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| adj.令人惊奇的，奇妙的；adv.惊人地；异乎寻常地；令人惊叹地 | |
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alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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10
intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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yearned
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| 渴望，切盼，向往( yearn的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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13
providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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14
propriety
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| n.正当行为；正当；适当 | |
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15
crocheting
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| v.用钩针编织( crochet的现在分词 )；钩编 | |
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16
hoofs
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| n.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的名词复数 )v.（兽的）蹄，马蹄( hoof的第三人称单数 ) | |
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17
scattering
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| n.[物]散射；散乱，分散；在媒介质中的散播adj.散乱的；分散在不同范围的；广泛扩散的；（选票）数量分散的v.散射(scatter的ing形式)；散布；驱散 | |
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18
spools
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| n.（绕线、铁线、照相软片等的）管( spool的名词复数 )；络纱；纺纱机；绕圈轴工人v.把…绕到线轴上（或从线轴上绕下来）( spool的第三人称单数 )；假脱机（输出或输入） | |
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19
joyfully
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| adv. 喜悦地, 高兴地 | |
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20
deferential
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| adj. 敬意的，恭敬的 | |
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21
chide
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| v.叱责；谴责 | |
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22
innocence
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| n.无罪；天真；无害 | |
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23
disarm
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| v.解除武装，回复平常的编制，缓和 | |
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24
watchful
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| adj.注意的，警惕的 | |
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25
noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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26
entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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27
wont
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| adj.习惯于；v.习惯；n.习惯 | |
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28
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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29
demurely
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| adv.装成端庄地，认真地 | |
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30
perturbed
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| adj.烦燥不安的v.使（某人）烦恼，不安( perturb的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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31
obtuseness
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| 感觉迟钝 | |
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32
vowed
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| 起誓，发誓（vow的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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33
awakening
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| n.觉醒，醒悟 adj.觉醒中的；唤醒的 | |
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34
doctrines
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| n.教条( doctrine的名词复数 )；教义；学说；（政府政策的）正式声明 | |
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35
interfering
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| adj. 妨碍的 动词interfere的现在分词 | |
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36
weaver
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| n.织布工；编织者 | |
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37
rumours
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| n.传闻( rumour的名词复数 )；风闻；谣言；谣传 | |
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38
allay
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| v.消除，减轻(恐惧、怀疑等) | |
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39
evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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40
cedar
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| n.雪松，香柏(木) | |
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41
clump
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| n.树丛，草丛；vi.用沉重的脚步行走 | |
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42
solitary
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| adj.孤独的，独立的，荒凉的；n.隐士 | |
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43
scotch
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| n.伤口，刻痕；苏格兰威士忌酒；v.粉碎，消灭，阻止；adj.苏格兰(人)的 | |
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44
bonnet
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| n.无边女帽；童帽 | |
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45
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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46
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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47
apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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48
forth
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| adv.向前；向外，往外 | |
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49
psalm
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| n.赞美诗，圣诗 | |
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50
expressive
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| adj.表现的，表达…的，富于表情的 | |
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51
ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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52
withered
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| adj. 枯萎的，干瘪的，（人身体的部分器官）因病萎缩的或未发育良好的 动词wither的过去式和过去分词形式 | |
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53
firmament
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| n.苍穹；最高层 | |
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54
conversed
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| v.交谈，谈话( converse的过去式 ) | |
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55
grove
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| n.林子，小树林，园林 | |
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56
alluring
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| adj.吸引人的，迷人的 | |
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57
sifted
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| v.筛( sift的过去式和过去分词 )；筛滤；细查；详审 | |
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58
velvety
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| adj. 像天鹅绒的, 轻软光滑的, 柔软的 | |
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59
aisle
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| n.（教堂、教室、戏院等里的）过道，通道 | |
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60
lighter
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| n.打火机，点火器；驳船；v.用驳船运送；light的比较级 | |
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61
recipient
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| a.接受的,感受性强的 n.接受者,感受者,容器 | |
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62
reticence
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| n.沉默，含蓄 | |
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63
casually
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| adv.漠不关心地，无动于衷地，不负责任地 | |
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64
cram
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| v.填塞，塞满，临时抱佛脚，为考试而学习 | |
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65
whittle
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| v.削（木头），削减；n.屠刀 | |
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66
curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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67
concessions
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| n.（尤指由政府或雇主给予的）特许权( concession的名词复数 )；承认；减价；（在某地的）特许经营权 | |
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68
resentment
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| n.怨愤，忿恨 | |
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69
morosely
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| adv.愁眉苦脸地，忧郁地 | |
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70
feud
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| n.长期不和；世仇；v.长期争斗；世代结仇 | |
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71
sordid
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| adj.肮脏的，不干净的，卑鄙的，暗淡的 | |
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72
determined
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| adj.坚定的；有决心的 | |
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73
tumult
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| n.喧哗；激动，混乱；吵闹 | |
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74
brute
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| n.野兽，兽性 | |
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75
hearty
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| adj.热情友好的；衷心的；尽情的，纵情的 | |
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76
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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77
immure
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| v.囚禁，幽禁 | |
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78
bluebell
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| n.风铃草 | |
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79
uncommonly
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| adv. 稀罕(极，非常) | |
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80
highland
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| n.(pl.)高地，山地 | |
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81
transgressing
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| v.超越( transgress的现在分词 )；越过；违反；违背 | |
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82
loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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83
advertising
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| n.广告业；广告活动 a.广告的；广告业务的 | |
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84
fowl
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| n.家禽，鸡，禽肉 | |
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85
poked
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| v.伸出( poke的过去式和过去分词 )；戳出；拨弄；与（某人）性交 | |
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86
perfectly
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| adv.完美地，无可非议地，彻底地 | |
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87
heartily
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| adv.衷心地，诚恳地，十分，很 | |
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88
shrugged
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| vt.耸肩（shrug的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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89
frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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90
poker
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| n.扑克；vt.烙制 | |
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91
courteously
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| adv.有礼貌地，亲切地 | |
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92
clan
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| n.氏族，部落，宗族，家族，宗派 | |
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93
interfere
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| v.(in)干涉，干预；(with)妨碍，打扰 | |
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94
maniac
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| n.精神癫狂的人；疯子 | |
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95
partially
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| adv.部分地，从某些方面讲 | |
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96
isles
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| 岛( isle的名词复数 ) | |
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97
deposed
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| v.罢免( depose的过去式和过去分词 )；（在法庭上）宣誓作证 | |
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98
destitute
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| adj.缺乏的；穷困的 | |
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99
warily
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| adv.留心地 | |
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100
brass
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| n.黄铜；黄铜器，铜管乐器 | |
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101
bereft
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| adj.被剥夺的 | |
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102
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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103
wilderness
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| n.杳无人烟的一片陆地、水等，荒漠 | |
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104
imperturbable
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| adj.镇静的 | |
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105
legacy
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| n.遗产，遗赠；先人(或过去)留下的东西 | |
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106
fettered
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| v.给…上脚镣，束缚( fetter的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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107
lumber
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| n.木材，木料；v.以破旧东西堆满；伐木；笨重移动 | |
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108
helping
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| n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的 | |
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109
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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110
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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111
antipathy
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| n.憎恶；反感，引起反感的人或事物 | |
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112
eyebrows
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| 眉毛( eyebrow的名词复数 ) | |
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113
emigrants
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| n.（从本国移往他国的）移民( emigrant的名词复数 ) | |
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114
redress
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| n.赔偿，救济，矫正；v.纠正，匡正，革除 | |
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115
vaguely
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| adv.含糊地，暖昧地 | |
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116
blustering
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| adj.狂风大作的，狂暴的v.外强中干的威吓( bluster的现在分词 )；咆哮；（风）呼啸；狂吹 | |
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117
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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118
aptitude
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| n.(学习方面的)才能，资质，天资 | |
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119
hemming
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| 卷边 | |
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120
strictly
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| adv.严厉地，严格地；严密地 | |
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121
muddle
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| n.困惑，混浊状态；vt.使混乱，使糊涂，使惊呆；vi.胡乱应付，混乱 | |
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122
paragon
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| n.模范，典型 | |
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123
disinterested
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| adj.不关心的，不感兴趣的 | |
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124
grits
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| n.粗磨粉；粗面粉；粗燕麦粉；粗玉米粉；细石子，砂粒等( grit的名词复数 )；勇气和毅力v.以沙砾覆盖（某物），撒沙砾于( grit的第三人称单数 )；咬紧牙关 | |
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125
irresistible
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| adj.非常诱人的，无法拒绝的，无法抗拒的 | |
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126
dubious
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| adj.怀疑的，无把握的；有问题的，靠不住的 | |
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127
abominable
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| adj.可厌的，令人憎恶的 | |
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128
tangle
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| n.纠缠；缠结；混乱；v.(使)缠绕；变乱 | |
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