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　little　distressed　that
  she　could　so　quietly　reveal　the　depth　of　her　feeling　towards　him；　he
  said：
  〃Ah；　Margaret！　　I　wish　you　would　not　praise　one　so　little　deserving
  it。〃
  〃Praise？〃　she　repeated；　with　an　accent　of　wonder。　〃I　praise　you！
  No；　Mr。　Sutherland；　that　I　am　not　guilty　of。　　Next　to　my　father；
  you　made　me　know　and　feel。　　And　as　I　walked　here；　I　was　thinking　of
  the　old　times；　and　older　times　still；　and　all　at　once　I　saw　the　very
  picture　out　of　the　old　Bible。〃
  She　came　close　to　him　now。　　He　rose；　trembling；　but　held　out　no
  hand；　uttered　no　greeting。
  〃Margaret；　dare　I　love　you？〃　he　faltered。
  She　looked　at　him　with　wide…open　eyes。
  〃Me？〃　she　said；　and　her　eyes　did　not　move　from　his。　　A　slight
  rose…flush　bloomed　out　on　her　motionless　face。
  〃Will　you　be　my　wife？〃　he　said；　trembling　yet　more。
  She　made　no　answer；　but　looked　at　him　still；　with　parted　lips；
  motionless。
  〃I　am　very　poor；　Margaret。　　I　could　not　marry　now。〃
  It　was　a　stupid　speech；　but　he　made　it。
  〃I　don't　care；〃　she　answered；　with　a　voice　like　thinking；　〃if　you
  never　marry　me。〃
  He　misunderstood　her；　and　turned　cold　to　the　very　heart。　　He
  misunderstood　her　stillness。　　Her　heart　lay　so　deep；　that　it　took　a
  long　time　for　its　feelings　to　reach　and　agitate　the　surface。　　He
  said　no　more；　but　turned　away　with　a　sigh。
  〃Come　home　to　my　mother；〃　she　said。
  He　obeyed　mechanically；　and　walked　in　silence　by　her　side。　　They
  reached　the　cottage　and　entered。　　Margaret　said：　〃Here　he　is；
  mother；〃　and　disappeared。
  Janet　was　seatedin　her　widow's　mutch；　with　the　plain　black　ribbon
  down　both　sides；　and　round　the　backin　the　arm…chair　by　the　fire；
  pondering　on　the　past；　or　gently　dreaming　of　him　that　was　gone。　　She
  turned　her　head。　　Sorrow　had　baptized　her　face　with　a　new
  gentleness。　　The　tender　expression　which　had　been　but　occasional
  while　her　husband　lived；　was　almost　constant　now。　　She　did　not
  recognize　Hugh。　He　saw　it；　and　it　added　weight　to　his　despair。　　He
  was　left　outside。
  〃Mother！〃　he　said；　involuntarily。
  She　started　to　her　feet；　cried：　〃My　bairn！　my　bairn！〃　threw　her　arms
  around　him；　and　laid　her　head　on　his　bosom。　　Hugh　sobbed　as　if　his
  heart　would　break。　　Janet　wept；　but　her　weeping　was　quiet　as　a
  summer　rain。　　He　led　her　to　her　chair；　knelt　by　her　side；　and　hiding
  his　face　in　her　lap　like　a　child；　faltered　out；　interrupted　by
  convulsive　sobs：
  〃Forgive　me；　forgive　me。　　I　don't　deserve　it；　but　forgive　me。〃
  〃Hoot　awa！　my　bairn！　my　bonny　man！　　Dinna　greet　that　gait。　　The　Lord
  preserve's！　what　are　ye　greetin'　for？　　Are　na　ye　come　hame　to　yer
  ain？　　Didna　Dawvid　aye　say'Gie　the　lad　time；　woman。　　It's　unco
  chaip；　for　the　Lord's　aye　makin't。　　The　best　things　is　aye　the　maist
  plentifu'。　　Gie　the　lad　time；　my　bonny　woman！'didna　he　say　that？
  Ay；　he　ca'd　me　his　bonny　woman；　ill　as　I　deserved　it　at　his　han'。
  An'　it's　no　for　me　to　say　ae　word　agen　you；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　gin
  ye　had　been　a　hantle　waur　nor　a　young　thochtless　lad　cudna　weel　help
  bein'。　　An'　noo　ye're　come　hame；　an'　nothing　cud　glaidden　my　heart
  mair；　'cep'；　maybe；　the　Maister　himsel'　was　to　say　to　my　man：
  'Dawvid！　come　furth。'〃
  Hugh　could　make　no　reply。　　He　got　hold　of　Margaret's　creepie；　which
  stood　in　its　usual　place；　and　sat　down　upon　it；　at　the　old　woman's
  feet。　　She　gazed　in　his　face　for　a　while；　and　then；　putting　her　arm
  round　his　neck；　drew　his　head　to　her　bosom；　and　fondled　him　as　if　he
  had　been　her　own　first…born。
  〃But　eh！　yer　bonnie　face　is　sharp　an'　sma'　to　what　it　used　to　be；
  Maister　Sutherlan'。　　I　doot　ye　hae　come　through　a　heap　o'　trouble。〃
  〃I'll　tell　you　all　about　it；〃　said　Hugh。
  〃Na；　na；　bide　still　a　wee。　　I　ken　a'　aboot　it　frae　Maggy。　　An'　guid
  preserve's！　ye're　clean　perished　wi'　cauld。　　Lat　me　up；　my　bairn。〃
  Janet　rose；　and　made　up　the　fire；　which　soon　cast　a　joyful　glow
  throughout　the　room。　　The　peat…fire　in　the　little　cottage　was　a　good
  symbol　of　the　heart　of　its　mistress：　it　gave　far　more　heat　than
  light。　　And　for　my　part；　dear　as　light　is；　I　like　heat　better。　　She
  then　put　on　the　kettle；or　the　boiler　I　think　she　called
  itsaying：
  〃I'm　jist　gaein'　to　mak'　ye　a　cup　o'　tay；　Mr。　Sutherlan'。　　It's　the
  handiest　thing；　ye　ken。　　An'　I　doot　ye're　muckle　in　want　o'
  something。　　Wad　ye　no　tak'　a　drappy　oot　o'　the　bottle；　i'　the　mane
  time？〃
  〃No；　thank　you；〃　said　Hugh；　who　longed　to　be　alone；　for　his　heart
  was　cold　as　ice；　〃I　would　rather　wait　for　the　tea；　but　I　should　be
  glad　to　have　a　good　wash；　after　my　journey。〃
  〃Come　yer　wa's；　than；　ben　the　hoose。　　I'll　jist　gang　an'　get　a
  drappy　o'　het　water　in　a　decanter。　　Bide　ye　still　by　the　fire。〃
  Hugh　stood；　and　gazed　into　the　peat…fire。　　But　he　saw　nothing　in　it。
  A　light　step　passed　him　several　times；　but　he　did　not　heed　it。　　The
  loveliest　eyes　looked　earnestly　towards　him　as　they　passed；　but　his
  were　not　lifted　to　meet　their　gaze。
  〃Noo；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　come　this　way。〃
  Hugh　was　left　alone　at　length；　in　the　room　where　David　had　slept；
  where　David　had　used　to　pray。　　He　fell　on　his　knees；　and　rose
  comforted　by　the　will　of　God。　A　few　things　of　Margaret's　were　about
  the　room。　　The　dress　he　had　seen　her　in　at　Mrs。　Elton's；　was　hanging
  by　the　bed。　　He　kissed　the　folds　of　the　garment；　and　said：　〃God's
  will　be　done。〃　　He　had　just　finished　a　hasty　ablution　when　Janet
  called　him。
  〃Come　awa'；　Maister　Sutherlan'；　come　ben　to　yer　ain　chaumer；〃　said
  she；　leading　the　way　to　the　room　she　still　called　the　study。
  Margaret　was　there。　　The　room　was　just　as　he　had　left　it。　　A　bright
  fire　was　on　the　hearth。　　Tea　was　on　the　table；　with　eggs；　and
  oatcakes；　and　flour…scons　in　abundance；　for　Janet　had　the　best　she
  could　get　for　Margaret；　who　was　only　her　guest　for　a　little　while。
  But　Hugh　could　not　eat。　　Janet　looked　distressed；　and　Margaret
  glanced　at　him　uneasily。
  〃Do　eat　something；　Mr。　Sutherland；〃　said　Margaret。
  Hugh　looked　at　her　involuntarily。　　She　did　not　understand　his　look；
  and　it　alarmed　her。　　His　countenance　was　changed。
  〃What　is　the　matter；　dearHugh？〃　she　said；　rising；　and　laying　her
  hand　on　his　shoulder。
  〃Hoots！　lassie；〃　broke　in　her