But here the baby seeming to recognize the unsympathetic tone of the
conversation, pulled down his lovely little mouth, and sent from it a dread
and potent cry. Clasping him to her bosom, Maggie ran from the room with
him, jostling James in the doorway as he let her pass.
"I am afraid I frightened the little man!" he said.
"'Deed, sir, it may ha' been you, or it may ha' been me 'at frichtit him,"
rejoined the soutar. "It's a thing I'm sair to blame in--that, whan I'm in
richt earnest, I'm aye ready to speyk as gien I was angert. Sir, I humbly
beg yer pardon."
"As humbly I beg yours," returned the parson; "I was in the wrong."
The heart of the old man was drawn afresh to the youth. He laid aside his
shoe, and turning on his stool, took James's hand in both of his, and said
solemnly and lovingly--
"This moment I wad wullin'ly die, sir, that the licht o' that uprisin o'
which we spak micht brak throuw upon ye!"
"I believe you, sir," answered James; "but," he went on, with an attempt at
humour, "it wouldn't be so much for you to do after all, seeing you would
straightway find yourself in a much better place!"
"Maybe whaur the penitent thief sat, some auchteen hunner year ago, waitin
to be called up higher!" rejoined the soutar with a watery smile.
Pages:
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80
81
82
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92