ERICSON LOSES TO WIN.
If Mary St.John had been an ordinary woman, and if, notwithstanding, Robert had been in love with her, he would have done very little in preparation for the coming session.But although she now possessed him, although at times he only knew himself as loving her, there was such a mountain air of calm about her, such an outgoing divinity of peace, such a largely moulded harmony of being, that he could not love her otherwise than grandly.
For her sake, weary with loving her, he would yet turn to his work, and, to be worthy of her, or rather, for he never dreamed of being worthy of her, to be worthy of leave to love her, would forget her enough to lay hold of some abstract truth of lines, angles, or symbols.A strange way of being in love, reader? You think so? Iwould there were more love like it: the world would be centuries nearer its redemption if a millionth part of the love in it were of the sort.All I insist, however, on my reader's believing is, that it showed, in a youth like Robert, not less but more love that he could go against love's sweetness for the sake of love's greatness.
Literally, not figuratively, Robert would kiss the place where her foot had trod; but I know that once he rose from such a kiss 'to trace the hyperbola by means of a string.'
It had been arranged between Ericson and Robert, in Miss Napier's parlour, the old lady knitting beside, that Ericson should start, if possible, a week earlier than usual, and spend the difference with Robert at Rothieden.But then the old lady had opened her mouth and spoken.And I firmly believe, though little sign of tenderness passed between them, it was with an elder sister's feeling for Letty's admiration of the 'lan'less laird,' that she said as follows:--'Dinna ye think, Mr.Ericson, it wad be but fair to come to us neist time? Mistress Faukner, honest lady, an' lang hae I kent her, 's no sae auld a frien' to you, Mr.Ericson, as oorsel's--nae offence to her, ye ken.A'body canna be frien's to a'body, ane as lang 's anither, ye ken.'
''Deed I maun alloo, Miss Naper,' interposed Robert, 'it's only fair.Ye see, Mr.Ericson, I cud see as muckle o' ye almost, the tae way as the tither.Miss Naper maks me welcome as weel's you.'
'An' I will mak ye welcome, Robert, as lang's ye're a gude lad, as ye are, and gang na efter--nae ill gait.But lat me hear o' yer doin' as sae mony young gentlemen do, espeacially whan they're ta'en up by their rich relations, an', public-hoose as this is, I'll close the door o' 't i' yer face.'
'Bless me, Miss Naper!' said Robert, 'what hae I dune to set ye at me that gait? Faith, I dinna ken what ye mean.'
'Nae mair do I, laddie.I hae naething against ye whatever.Only ye see auld fowk luiks aheid, an' wad fain be as sure o' what's to come as o' what's gane.'
'Ye maun bide for that, I doobt,' said Robert.
'Laddie,' retorted Miss Napier, 'ye hae mair sense nor ye hae ony richt till.Haud the tongue o' ye.Mr.Ericson 's to come here neist.'
And the old lady laughed such good humour into her stocking-sole, that the foot destined to wear it ought never to have been cold while it lasted.So it was then settled; and a week before Robert was to start for Aberdeen, Ericson walked into The Boar's Head.
Half-an-hour after that, Crookit Caumill was shown into the ga'le-room with the message to Maister Robert that Maister Ericson was come, and wanted to see him.
Robert pitched Hutton's Mathematics into the grate, sprung to his feet, all but embraced Crookit Caumill on the spot, and was deterred only by the perturbed look the man wore.Crookit Caumill was a very human creature, and hadn't a fault but the drink, Miss Napier said.
And very little of that he would have had if she had been as active as she was willing.
'What's the maitter, Caumill?' asked Robert, in considerable alarm.
'Ow, naething, sir,' returned Campbell.
'What gars ye look like that, than?' insisted Robert.