eaten； if not in silence； yet with nothing that could be called
conversation。 And； almost in silence； David walked home with Hugh。
The spirit of his father seemed to walk beside him。 He felt as if
he had been buried with him； and had found that the sepulchre was
clothed with green things and roofed with starswas in truth the
heavens and the earth in which his soul walked abroad。
If Hugh looked a little more into his Bible； and tried a little more
to understand it； after his father's death； it is not to be wondered
at。 It is but another instance of the fact that； whether from
education or from the leading of some higher instinct； we are ready；
in every more profound trouble； to feel as if a solution or a refuge
lay somewherelay in sounds of wisdom； perhaps； to be sought and
found in the best of books； the deepest of all the mysterious
treasuries of words。 But David never sought to influence Hugh to
this end。 He read the Bible in his family； but he never urged the
reading of it on others。 Sometimes he seemed rather to avoid the
subject of religion altogether； and yet it was upon those very
occasions that； if he once began to speak； he would pour out； before
he ceased； some of his most impassioned utterances。
CHAPTER XII。
CHARITY。
Knowledge bloweth up； but charity buildeth up。
LORD BACON'S rendering of 1 Cor。 viii。 I。
Things went on as usual for a few days； when Hugh began to encounter
a source of suffering of a very material and unromantic kind； but
which； nevertheless； had been able before now； namely； at the
commencement of his tutorship； to cause him a very sufficient degree
of distress。 It was this； that he had no room in which he could
pursue his studies in private； without having to endure a most
undesirable degree of cold。 In summer this was a matter of little
moment； for the universe might then be his secret chamber； but in a
Scotch spring or autumn； not to say winter； a bedroom without a
fire…place； which； strange to say； was the condition of his； was not
a study in which thought could operate to much satisfactory result。
Indeed； pain is a far less hurtful enemy to thinking than cold。
And to have to fight such suffering and its benumbing influences；
as well as to follow out a train of reasoning； difficult at any
time； and requiring close attentionis too much for any machine
whose thinking wheels are driven by nervous gear。 Sometimesfor he
must make the attempthe came down to his meals quite blue with
cold； as his pupils remarked to their mother； but their observation
never seemed to suggest to her mind the necessity of making some
better provision for the poor tutor。 And Hugh； after the way in
which she had behaved to him； was far too proud to ask her a favour；
even if he had had hopes of receiving his request。 He knew； too；
that； in the house； the laird； to interfere in the smallest degree；
must imperil far more than he dared。 The prospect； therefore； of
the coming winter； in a country where there was scarcely any
afternoon； and where the snow might lie feet deep for weeks； was not
at all agreeable。 He had； as I have said； begun to suffer already；
for the mornings and evenings were cold enough now； although it was
a bright； dry October。 One evening Janet remarked that he had
caught cold； for he was 'hostin' sair；' and this led Hugh to state
the discomfort he was condemned to experience up at the ha' house。
〃Weel；〃 said David； after some silent deliberation； 〃that sattles't；
we maun set aboot it immedantly。〃
Of course Hugh was quite at a loss to understand what he meant； and
begged him to explain。
〃Ye see；〃 replied David； 〃we hae verra little hoose…room i' this bit
cot； for； excep this kitchen； we hae but the ben whaur Janet and me
sleeps； and sae last year I spak' to the laird to lat me hae muckle
timmer as I wad need to big a kin' o' a lean…to to the house ahin'；
so 'at we micht hae a kin' o' a bit parlour like； or rather a roomie
'at ony o' us micht retire till for a bit； gin we wanted to be oor
lanes。 He had nae objections； honest man。 But somehoo or ither I
never sat han' till't； but noo the wa's maun be up afore the wat
weather sets in。 Sae I'se be at it the morn； an' maybe ye'll len'
me a han'； Mr。 Sutherlan'； and tak' oot yer wages in house…room an'
firin' efter it's dune。〃
〃Thank you heartily！〃 said Hugh； that would be delightful。 It seems
too good to be possible。 But will not wooden walls be rather a poor
protection against such winters as I suppose you have in these
parts？〃
〃Hootoot； Mr。 Sutherlan'； ye micht gie me credit for raither mair
rumgumption nor that comes till。 Timmer was the only thing I not
（needed） to spier for； the lave lies to ony body's han'a few
cart…fu's o' sods frae the hill ahint the hoose； an' a han'fu' or
twa o' stanes for the chimla oot o' the quarrythere's eneuch there
for oor turn ohn blastit mair； an' we'll saw the wood oorsels； an'
gin we had ance the wa's up； we can carry on the inside at oor
leisur'。 That's the way 'at the Maker does wi' oorsels； he gie's us
the wa's an' the material； an' a whole lifetime； maybe mair； to
furnish the house。〃
〃Capital！〃 exclaimed Hugh。 〃I'll work like a horse； and we'll be at
it the morn。〃
〃I'se be at it afore daylicht； an' ane or twa o' the lads'll len' me
a han' efter wark…hours； and there's yersel'； Mr。 Sutherlan'； worth
ane an' a half o' ordinary workers； an' we'll hae truff aneuch for
the wa's in a jiffey。 I'll mark a feow saplin's i' the wud here at
denner…time； an' we'll hae them for bauks； an' couples； an' things；
an' there's plenty dry eneuch for beurds i' the shed； an' bein' but
a lean…to； there'll be but half wark； ye ken。〃
They went out directly； in the moonlight； to choose the spot； and
soon came to the resolution to build it so； that a certain back
door； which added more to the cold in winter than to the convenience
in summer； should be the entrance to the new chamber。 The chimney
was the chief difficulty； but all the materials being in the
immediate neighbourhood； and David capable of turning his hands to
anything； no obstruction was feared。 Indeed； he set about that part
first； as was necessary； and had soon built a small chimney； chiefly
of stones and lime； while； under his directions； the walls were
making progress at the same time； by the labour of Hugh and two or
three of the young men from the farm； who were most ready to oblige
David with their help； although they were still rather unfriendly to
the colliginer； as they called him。 But Hugh's frankness soon won
them over； and they all formed within a day or two a very
comfortable party of labourers。 They worked very hard； for if the
rain should set in before the roof was on； their labour would be
almost lost from the soaking of the walls。 They built them of turf；
very thick； with a slight slope on the outside towards the roof；
before commencing which； they partially cut the windows out of the
walls； putting wood across to support the top。 I should have
explained that the turf used in building was the upper and coarser
part of the peat； which was plentiful in the neighbourhood。 The
thatch…eaves of the cottage itself projected over the joining of the
new roof； so as to protect it from the drip； and David soon put a
thick thatch of new straw upon the little building。 Second…hand
windows were procured at the village； and the holes in the walls cut
to their size。 They next proceeded to the saw…pit on the
estatefor almost everything necessary for keeping up the offices
was done on the farm itselfwhere they sawed thin planks of deal；
to floor and line the room； and make it more cosie。 These David
planed upon one side； and when they were nailed against slight posts
all round the walls； and the joints filled in with putty； the room
began to look most enticingly habitable。 The roof had not been
thatched two days before the rain set in； but now they could work
quite comfortably inside； and as the space was small； and the
forenights were long； they had it quite finished before the end of
November。 David bought an old table in the village； and one or two
chairs； mended them up； made a kind of rustic sofa or settle； put a
few bookshelves against the wall； had a peat fire lighted on the
hearth every day； and at length； one Saturday evening； they had
supper in the room； and the place was consecrated henceforth to
friendship and learning。 From this time； every evening； as soon as
lessons； and the meal which immediately followed them； were over；
Hugh betook himself to the cottage； on the shelves of which all his
books by degrees collected themselves； and there spent the whole
long evening； generally till ten o'clock； the first part alone
reading or writing； the last in company with his pupils； who；
diligent as ever； now of course made more rapid progress than
before； inasmuch as the lessons were both longer and more frequent。
The only drawback to their comfort was； that they seemed to have
shut Janet out； but she soon remedied this； by contriving to get
through with her house work earlier than she had ever done before；
and； taking her place on the settle behind them； knitted away
diligently at her stocking； which； to inexperienced eyes； seemed
always the same； and always in the same state of progress；
notwithstanding that she provided the hose of the whole family； blue
and grey； ribbed and plain。 Her occasional withdrawings； to observe
the progress of the supper； were only a cheerful break in the
continuity of labour。 Little would the passer…by imagine that
beneath that roof； which seemed worthy only of the name of a shed；
there sat； in a snug little homely room； such a youth as Hugh； such
a girl as Margaret； such a grand peasant king as David； and such a
true…hearted mother to them all as Janet。 There were no pictures
and no music； for Margaret kept her songs for solitary places； but
the sound of verse was often the living wind which set a…waving the
tops of the trees of knowledge； fast growing in the sunlight of
Truth。 The thatch of that shed…roof was like the grizzled hair of
David； beneath which lay the temple not only of holy but of wise and
poetic thought。 It was like the sy