he would return to the toil and hunger and hope of London。
What made Hugh go to Turriepuffit？ His love to Margaret？ No。 A
better motive even than that：Repentance。 Better I mean for Hugh
as to the individual occasion； not in itself； for love is deeper
than repentance； seeing that without love there can be no
repentance。 He had repented before； but now that he haunted in
silence the regions of the past； the whole of his history in
connection with David returned on him clear and vivid； as if passing
once again before his eyes and through his heart； and he repented
more deeply still。 Perhaps he was not quite so much to blame as he
thought himself。 Perhaps only now was it possible for the seeds of
truth； which David had sown in his heart； to show themselves above
the soil of lower； yet ministering cares。 They had needed to lie a
winter long in the earth。 Now the keen blasts and griding frosts
had done their work； and they began to grow in the tearful prime。
Sorrow for loss brought in her train sorrow for wronga sister
more solemn still； and with a deeper blessing in the voice of her
loving farewell。It is a great mistake to suppose that sorrow is a
part of repentance。 It is far too good a grace to come so easily。
A man may repent； that is； think better of it； and change his way；
and be very much of a PhariseeI do not say a hypocritefor a long
time after： it needs a saint to be sorrowful。 Yet repentance is
generally the road to this sorrow。And now that in the gracious
time of grief； his eyesight purified by tears； he entered one after
another all the chambers of the past； he humbly renewed once more
his friendship with the noble dead； and with the homely； heartful
living。 The grey…headed man who walked with God like a child； and
with his fellow…men like an elder brother who was always forgetting
his birthright and serving the younger； the woman who believed where
she could not see； and loved where she could not understand； and the
maiden who was still and lustreless； because she ever absorbed and
seldom reflected the lightall came to him； as if to comfort him
once more in his loneliness； when his heart had room for them； and
need of them yet again。 David now became； after his departure； yet
more of a father to him than before； for that spirit； which is the
true soul of all this body of things； had begun to recall to his
mind the words of David； and so teach him the things that David
knew； the everlasting realities of God。 And it seemed to him the
while； that he heard David himself uttering； in his homely； kingly
voice； whatever truth returned to him from the echo…cave of the
past。 Even when a quite new thought arose within him； it came to
him in the voice of David； or at least with the solemn music of his
tones clinging about it as the murmur about the river's course。
Experience had now brought him up to the point where he could begin
to profit by David's communion； he needed the things which David
could teach him； and David began forthwith to give them to him。
That birth of nature in his soul； which enabled him to understand
and love Margaret； helped him likewise to contemplate with
admiration and awe； the towering peaks of David's hopes； trusts； and
aspirations。 He had taught the ploughman mathematics； but that
ploughman had possessed in himself all the essential elements of the
grandeur of the old prophets； glorified by the faith which the Son
of Man did not find in the earth； but left behind him to grow in it；
and which had grown to a noble growth of beauty and strength in this
peasant； simple and patriarchal in the midst of a self…conceited
age。 And； oh！ how good he had been to him！ He had built a house
that he might take him in from the cold； and make life pleasant to
him； as in the presence of God。 He had given him his heart every
time he gave him his great manly hand。 And this man； this friend；
this presence of Christ； Hugh had forsaken； neglected； all but
forgotten。 He could not go； and； like the prodigal； fall down
before him； and say； 〃Father； I have sinned against heaven and
thee；〃 for that heaven had taken him up out of his sight。 He could
only weep instead； and bitterly repent。 Yes； there was one thing
more he could do。 Janet still lived。 He would go to her； and
confess his sin； and beg her forgiveness。 Receiving it； he would be
at peace。 He knew David forgave him； whether he confessed or not；
and that； if he were alive； David would seek his confession only as
the casting away of the separation from his heart； as the banishment
of the worldly spirit； and as the natural sign by which he might
know that Hugh was one with him yet。
Janet was David's representative on earth： he would go to her。
So he returned； rich and great； rich in knowing that he was the
child of Him to whom all the gold mines belong； and great in that
humility which alone recognizes greatness； and in the beginnings of
that meekness which shall inherit the earth。 No more would he stunt
his spiritual growth by self…satisfaction。 No more would he lay
aside； in the cellars of his mind； poor withered bulbs of opinions；
which； but for the evil ministrations of that self…satisfaction；
seeking to preserve them by drying and salting； might have been
already bursting into blossoms of truth； of infinite loveliness。
He knew that Margaret thought far too well of himhonoured him
greatly beyond his deserts。 He would not allow her to be any longer
thus deceived。 He would tell her what a poor creature he was。 But
he would say； too； that he hoped one day to be worthy of her praise；
that he hoped to grow to what she thought him。 If he should fail in
convincing her； he would receive all the honour she gave him humbly；
as paid； not to him； but to what he ought to be。 God grant it might
be as to his future self！
In this mood he went to Janet。
CHAPTER XXIV。
THE FIR…WOOD AGAIN。
Er stand vor der himmlischen Jungfrau。 Da hob er den leichten；
gl鋘zenden Schleir； undRosenbl黷hchen sank in seine
Arme。Novalis。Die Lehrlinge zu Sais。
He stood before the heavenly Virgin （Isis； the Goddess of Nature）。
Then lifted he the light； shining veil； andRosebud （his old love）
sank into his arms。
So womanly； so benigne； and so meek。
CHAUCER。Prol。 to Leg。 of Good Women。
It was with a mingling of strange emotions； that Hugh approached the
scene of those not very old； and yet； to his feeling； quite early
memories。 The dusk was beginning to gather。 The hoar…frost lay
thick on the ground。 The pine…trees stood up in the cold； looking；
in their garment of spikes； as if the frost had made them。 The rime
on the gate was unfriendly； and chilled his hand。 He turned into
the footpath。 He say the room David had built for him。 Its thatch
was one mass of mosses； whose colours were hidden now in the
cuckoo…fruit of the frost。 Alas！ how Death had cast his deeper
frost over all； for the man was gone from the hearth！ But neither
old Winter nor skeleton Death can withhold the feet of the little
child Spring。 She is stronger than both。 Love shall conquer hate；
and God will overcome sin。
He drew night to the door； trembling。 It seemed strange to him that
his nerves only； and not his mind； should feel。In moments of
unusual excitement； it sometimes happens that the only consciousness
a strong man has of emotion； lies in an unwonted physical vibration；
the mind itself refusing to be disturbed。 It is； however； but a
seeming： the emotion is so deep； that consciousness can lay hold of
its physical result only。The cottage looked the same as ever； only
the peat…stack outside was smaller。 In the shadowiness of the firs；
the glimmer of a fire was just discernible on the kitchen window。
He trembled so much that he could not enter。 He would go into the
fir…wood first； and see Margaret's tree； as he always called it in
his thoughts and dreams。
Very poor and stunted and meagre looked the fir…trees of
Turriepuffit； after the beeches and elms of Arnstead。 The evening
wind whistled keen and cold through their dry needles； and made them
moan； as if because they were fettered； and must endure the winter
in helpless patience。 Here and there amongst them； rose the Titans
of the little forestthe huge； old； contorted； wizard…like； yet
benevolent beingsthe Scotch firs。 Towards one of these he bent
his way。 It was the one under which he had seen Margaret； when he
met her first in the wood； with her whole soul lost in the waving of
its wind…swung； sun…lighted top； floating about in the sea of air
like a golden nest for some silvery bird of heaven。 To think that
the young girl to whom he had given the primrose he had just found；
the then first…born of the Spring； should now be the queen of his
heart！ Her childish dream of the angel haunting the wood had been
true； only she was the angel herself。 He drew near the place。 How
well he knew it！ He seated himself； cold as it was in the February
of Scotland； at the foot of the blessed tree。 He did not know that
it was cold。
While he sat with his eyes fixed on the ground； a light rustle in
the fallen leaves made him raise them suddenly。 It was all winter
and fallen leaves about him； but he lifted his eyes； and in his soul
it was summer： Margaret stood before him。 He was not in the least
surprised。 For how can one wonder to see before his eyes； the form
of which his soul is full？there is no shock。 She stood a little
way off； lookingas if she wanted to be sure before she moved a
step。 She was dressed in a grey winsey gown； close to her throat
and wrists。 She had neither shawl nor bonnet。 Her fine health kept
her warm； even in a winter wood at sun…down。 She looked just the
same；at home everywhere； most at home in Nature's secret chamber。
Like the genius of the place； she made the winter…wood look homely。
What were the oaks and beeches of Arnstead now？ Homeliness and
glory are Heaven。
She came nearer。
〃Margaret！〃 he murmured； and would have risen。
〃No； no； sit still；〃 she rejoined； in a pleading tone。 〃I thought it
was the angel in the picture。 Now I know it。 Sit still； dear Mr。
Sutherland； one moment more。〃
Humbled by his sense of unworthiness； and a