Chapter XVII

Mr. George Lumsden, the manager of Messrs. Sutor and Sinclair's Glasgow house, was desirous that Mr. Sutherland should enter immediately on his probation. So said the letter which Mr. Foreman read to Archibald, while Mrs. Catherine was receiving at the Tower the emissaries from Strathoran. The good lawyer was in high spirits at the successful issue of his negotiations. Archibald was satisfied that his work was now so near a beginning. Mr. Ferguson acquiesced with a sigh. There were no further obstacles in the way. Next morning, it was arranged, Archibald should leave Portoran.

He rode home to the Tower in a slight excitement of mingled regret and hopefulness. He was sadly wanting in that placid equanimity whose calm is not disturbed by change. He felt these variations of the firmament of his fortune, as the sea feels the wind, answering no less swiftly to the curl of the lightest breeze, than to the sweep of the gale which chronicles its progress in stories of shipwreck and death. He felt it a very momentous thing, this second beginning of his course. Formerly, he had left his native district with every adventitious help--favored of fortune, rich in friends--yet had returned a ruined, solitary man. Now he went forth with every favoring circumstance withdrawn--his own strength and the help of Providence--no other aid to trust to--how, or in what sort, should he make his second return?

Mrs. Catherine's preparations were not quite completed: one half of the abundant outfit which she was preparing for her adventurer, would need to be sent after him to Glasgow. By earliest daybreak the next morning, Mrs. Euphan Morison herself began to make ready the heap of delicate and snowy linen, the making of which had occupied their time of late. At eleven Archibald was to set out.

He had time that morning to visit Merkland, to take leave of Mrs. Ross, and with much silent sorrow, and an indefinite understanding which expressed itself in no words, to bid farewell to Anne. Both of them were immersed in other cares and occupations. A solitary and long warfare lay before Archibald. Concerning matters private to themselves, both were heroically silent. They parted, each knowing the strong, honorable, true heart that was within the other--each aware of the other's entire and full sympathy--in grave faith, fortitude, patience; and with a silent regret, that spoke more powerfully than words.

Mrs. Catherine was in the little room; she had spent most of the morning there. She had provided Archibald with all temporal necessities--she was pleading now, before God, for that other, and yet more needful spiritual providing, which should keep him blameless, in the warfare of an evil world. No vain repetitions were there in that speechless agony of supplication: the strong spirit, with its mighty grasp of faith, was wrestling for a blessing--for prosperity and success, if it should please the Giver of all Good; but, above all earthly success and prosperity, for purity and deliverance from sin. Half an hour before the time of his departure, the young man joined her.

"Archie," said Mrs. Catherine, "I desired to say my last words to you here: you mind your return to my house--you mind your covenant with me, before God, and within the shadow of Sholto Douglas, my one brother, whom, if it had not been otherwise ordained, you might have drawn your name and blood from--Archie Sutherland, you mind your covenant?"

"I do."

"In whatever circumstances the Lord may place you--in peril, in toil, in striving with the world harder than that, in ease, and peace, and prosperity, if it be His will to give you these: with a single eye, and an honest heart, and in the strength of Him that saved you, you will resist sin. Archie Sutherland, you hold by your covenant? you plight me your word again?"

"Most earnestly--most truthfully. You trust me, Mrs. Catherine?"

"I trust you, Archie. The Lord uphold and strengthen you in your goings-out, and in your comings-in!" There was a pause.--"And have you gotten everything right, Archie? are you sure there is nothing wanting that you will need, or that I can get for ye?"

"Nothing," said Archibald. "You are only too lavish in your kindness, Mrs. Catherine; you forget that I am but a poor adventurer now."

"Hush!" said Mrs. Catherine. "Kindness is not a word to be between your mother's son and me. Ay, Archie, you are an adventurer; mind it is no common errand you are going forth upon. To the like of you, hope is the natural breath and common air--the hopes of age are solemn ventures, our last and weightiest--when they fail, there is no new upspringing in the pithless soil that many hopes have withered and died upon, like September leaves. Archie, the last great hope of an aged woman is embarked in your labor. See--look where my first sun set--the darkness of its sinking is not out of my heart yet. You might have been of my own blood, boy; you might have borne the name of Sholto Douglas! Now the last of them all is on your head.--Archie Sutherland, be mindful of it; let me see you honorably home in your own land, before I go to another country."

Archibald answered her almost incoherently: "If it was within the power of man--if any toil could accomplish it--"

The phæton was at the door; Andrew and Johnnie Halflin were placing the traveller's trunks upon it, while Mrs. Euphan Morison, portly and broad, stood in the doorway superintending. The hour drew very near.

"And there is yet another thing," said Mrs. Catherine.--"Archie, it happens whiles that prosperity is not in the power of man--if toil cannot accomplish it--if the blessing that maketh rich, comes not upon your labor, I charge you to spend no time in vain repinings, nor to be cast down beyond measure: mind at all times that my house is open to you--that if you have no other shelter in the wide world, under this roof there constantly remains for you a home. I say, mind this, Archie, as the last charge I lay upon you. If you are like to be overcome in your striving, come home; if your heart grows faint within you, and you find only weariness in your plans of merchandize instead of fortune, come home--you can come at no time when you will not be dearly welcome. Mind, Archie Sutherland, I say to you, mind! that let the world smile upon you or frown upon you as it lists, you have a home to come to--a household blythe to welcome you!"

The time had come at last. The hope of return in his heart bowed down under the heaviness of his farewell, Archibald seated himself in the vehicle, and seizing the reins, drove hastily away, not trusting himself to look back again. When he had reached the high road he paused once more, to answer the mute farewell waved to him from within the enclosure of Merkland, and then turned resolutely away--away from genial home, warm friends, affection, sympathy, to cold toil and friendless labor, an uncongenial atmosphere, a strange country. His heart swelled within him--his breast tightened--his eyes overflowed. Years must pass, with all their unknown vicissitudes, before he looked again upon those familiar faces--before he saw his own country again lie beautiful and calm beneath the sun. He quickened his pace, keeping time with the rapid current of his thoughts. For home--for friends--for country--all his labor, all his endurance, would be for these: was it for him to repine, or murmur, with his work and his reward before him? The remembrance stirred his spirit like a trumpet, and the home voice of the Oran stole in upon his thoughts chiming so hopefully and brave:

"Speed thy labor o'er land and sea,
Home and kindred are waiting for thee!"

The remainder of the month passed quietly away; the little world of Strathoran was unusually still. Jeanie and Ada Mina Coulter began to weary for the marriage, which rumor said would shortly bring a very youthful, blue-eyed bride to Merkland, and for the festivities and party-givings consequent thereupon. Miss Falconer was unusually quiet. Walter Foreman, John Coulter and their set, had scarcely any new feats or new speeches of Marjory's to make mirthful comments on. She was becoming intimate with a sober, stout, cheerful, elderly lady, who wore one unvarying dress of black silk, and was Mr. Lumsden's (of Portoran) unmarried elder sister. Miss Lumsden had taken a decided liking for the strange, wild, eccentric girl, whose exploits kept all the parish amused; and had resided one whole fortnight in the immediate vicinity of the Falcon's Craig stables and kennel, in order to assist and counsel her young friend in the onerous duties of housekeeping. To Miss Lumsden's honor be it spoken, she returned to the orderly and quiet Manse, more stanchly Miss Falconer's friend than ever, and that in spite of the very decided hand with which Marjory held the reins of government at Falcon's Craig, barely admitting counsel, and by no means tolerating assistance.

Mr. Foreman, to the great amazement of Lord Gillravidge and his friends, had served upon them sundry mystic papers, interdicting them from their obstruction of the by-way. Lord Gillravidge resisted, and the case was to be tried before the Court of Session.

Mrs. Catherine's stately quietude was broken by the successive charges of this legal war; the old lady entered into it keenly, anathematizing with no lack of vehemence the "hounds" who were usurping the possession of the dignified house of Strathoran.--The more than ordinary stillness of the district brought out the excesses of Lord Gillravidge's household in prominent and bold relief. The country people told sad tales of these--exaggerated no doubt by their own simple habits, and by their thorough dislike to the new-comer; but still possessing some foundation of truth.

Lewis Ross, with James Aytoun and Robert Ferguson, were hard at work in the fair parish on the south bank of "_the_ Firth," where stood the desolate mansion of Redheugh, and where Arthur Aytoun met his fate. Lewis and James were resident in the village inn, Robert had his quarters in a comfortable farm-house at some distance from them. They were pursuing their inquiry with all diligence. In Lewis's letters to Anne, were recorded the long walks they took, the long conversations in peasant houses, to which they were compelled to submit, in return for the scraps of information gathered, the immense quantity of country gossip, with which the history was interlarded, and the very slow progress they made in their search. Many of the elder cottagers of the district, remembered "young Redheugh" well, and spoke of his character, Lewis said, as Esther Fleming and Mrs. Catherine had done; but, though there was much affectionate respect for his youthful goodness, and much pity for his terrible fate, there was no doubt of his guilt among them, and they concluded their history of him, with an "Eh, Sirs! but mortal flesh is weak when it's left to itsel; to think o' sae mony guid gifts coming to sic an end!" Lewis did not know well what to do; he could see no hope.

Early in February they returned to Edinburgh from whence came the following letter to his anxious sister:

"My dear Anne,

"We have at last abandoned the search in despair--there is nothing
to be made of it--I thought so before we began. We have awakened
the attention of the district, and will, I fear, have to pay the
penalty in some newspaper paragraphs resuscitating the whole story,
which is disagreeable enough certainly--otherwise we have done
nothing.

"I told you that we had, the other day, called at the cottage of
the man, who was the first to discover Mr. Aytoun after the murder.
This man was an important witness. He had been employed about
Redheugh, and was a spectator of the quarrel between Aytoun and
Norman. It had reference to a young lady, between whom and Norman
there was a rumored engagement; whether Aytoun knew this, or not, I
cannot tell, but he spoke disparagingly of the girl, who was of
inferior rank. Norman resented the slighting words with the utmost
vehemence and passion; so much so, that the man feared some
immediate collision between them. This was prevented, however, by
some chance interposition, which he does not very clearly
recollect. Norman was called away, and Mr. Aytoun returned home.

"It was his daily custom to walk in this wood, though one would
fancy from the character they give him, that he was by no means of
a contemplative kind. He seems rather to have been one of those
cool men, who take prudent means to recover themselves from the
dissipation of one night, in order that they may be fit for the
dissipation of the next. So it was his habit to walk in this wood
early in the morning, and Norman knew it. Our informant was
something of an artist, Anne. You should have heard his homely
description of the stillness and beauty of the wood, as he went
through it, returning from his morning's work, to breakfast; 'the
sun was shining as clear as if there was naething below that
dauredna be seen, or needit to shrink from the sight of man; and
the innocent water running blythe beneath the trees, and the sky
spreading calm aboon a', as if violence had never been dune in
sicht of its blue e'e;' heightening the serenity of his background
by all those delicate touches, that the terrible discovery he was
about to make might stand out in bolder relief. You will say I
treat this with indifference, Anne, but indeed, you are mistaken. I
know Norman better, and am more interested in his fate now, (not to
speak of my own individual interest in the result) than when I left
Merkland.'

"To resume the story. Our informant going carelessly forward
through the wood, came suddenly upon the body of the murdered man,
which had fallen, breaking down the low bushes and brushwood upon
the waterside. I need not tell you his horror, nor how he describes
it. He procured assistance immediately, and conveyed the body home,
and afterwards returned to ascertain whether there were any traces
visible of the murderer. He says, he never doubted for a
moment--the last night's quarrel and estrangement, the cold sneers
of Aytoun, and Norman's passionate vehemence, left him, as he
thought, no room for doubt. His strong suspicion became absolute
certainty, when on returning, he found, lying below some thick
underwood, a light fowling-piece, bearing Norman's initials and
arms. His story differs in no point from the evidence given by him
at the time, and there mingles with it a compassion and regret for
Norman, which make its truthfulness still more apparent. When I
ventured to suggest, that in spite of all these condemnatory
circumstances, the criminal might still be another person, he shook
his head. 'I wad gie twa and a plack, Sir, to ony man that could
prove that to me; na, bluid winna hide. If ony man living had
spilt it, it wad have been brought hame to him before now.' To such
a statement one could make no answer. I confess, I left him utterly
hopeless; what can we do further?

"The other man, who met Norman upon that fatal morning, leaving the
wood, is dead; but his widow lives, and remembers her husband's
story perfectly. Norman, the widow says, was smiling and cheerful,
humming a tune, and apparently in high spirits, and stopped on his
way to greet her husband kindly, as was his wont; for she, too,
testifies to the uniform goodness and gentleness of "young
Redheugh." It was a mystery to her husband, she says, to the last
day of his life, how a man, newly come from such a deed, with the
blood of a fellow creature and a friend warm on his hand, should
have smiles on his face, and kindness on his tongue, to an
indifferent passer-by.

"I cannot understand it either, Anne. It is the one thing, above
all others, which staggers me. A calculating, cool, reasoning man,
who even, at such a time, could think of the chances of a favorable
evidence, might have been supposed capable of this--even then, I
fancy there is hardly anything of the kind on record. But an
impulsive, generous, sensitive man, such as universal testimony
concurs in representing Norman--one cannot comprehend it. If the
gaiety had been forced, the man must have observed it--it would
have been an additional evidence of his guilt--but it was not so.
The favorite tune--the elastic, joyous manner--the frank greeting!
I cannot reconcile these with the idea of his guilt. If it had not
been for this one very indistinct and impalpable piece of evidence,
which, like his own letter, may influence the mind, but can have no
legal force as proof, I should at once have given up the search,
and taken refuge in the certainty of his guilt.

"All inquiries as to any other suspected party have proved entirely
fruitless. Every circumstance had pointed so clearly to Norman,
that, as I think, anything inculpating another, must have faded
from the memories of the people as quite unimportant.

"James Aytoun looks very grave: he does not say much, and I cannot
guess his opinion. He has been very zealous and active in the
search, and has conducted it, as it seems to me, with great
prudence and wisdom. I think he is very much disappointed. I even
think that he still retains a lingering conviction of Norman's
innocence, and is, like myself, bewildered and uncertain what step
to take, or what to do.

"From Mrs. Aytoun I have received just such a reception as you
might have expected from the mother of James and Alice. Tremulously
kind, almost tender to me for her daughter's sake, yet often lost
in long reveries of silent sorrow. No doubt this search, recalling
all the circumstances of her widowhood to Mrs. Aytoun's mind, has
cost her much pain. I think, however, that, to speak modestly, they
don't altogether dislike me. So far as worldly matters go, we, you
know, hold our heads higher than they do, and I cannot help hoping
that people so sensible and friendly as James Aytoun and his
mother, will not, in the spirit of a darker age, allow this old and
forgotten crime to hinder the happiness of their gentle Alice. I
have improved my time sufficiently, I trust, to ensure that that
same happiness is not very safe, if I am denied a share in it. I
intend, to-morrow, to have an explanation with them, and ascertain
definitely what are our future prospects. I need not say how
gentle, and sympathizing, and affectionate--how entirely like
herself, in short, our little Alice is.

"I have not much fear of the _eclaircissement_ to-morrow. They
will, very likely, impose some probation upon us. We are both young
enough to tolerate that--but that they can steadily refuse their
consent to a connection (as I flatter myself) so proper and
suitable, an advantageous settlement for Alice, which will secure
alike her happiness and her external comfort, I cannot believe. I
shall, likely, return some time this week. Let Duncan meet me in
Portoran on Friday. If I do not come, it does not matter much--the
old man will be the better for the drive.

"LEWIS ROSS."

Beside the letter of Lewis was another, the handwriting of which Anne did not know. She had few correspondents, and opened it wonderingly. It was from James Aytoun.

"My dear Miss Ross,

"Your brother will have informed you of our failure. So far as I
can at present see, we have used every possible means, and the only
result is, a strengthening of the former evidence, and a more clear
establishment of Mr. Rutherford's apparent guilt. For my sister's
sake I began this, deeply anxious for a favorable issue. I feel
only more anxious now, when I know, and have a personal interest in
the nearest relatives of this unhappy young man, whom men call my
father's murderer. I cannot comprehend it. In this very clear and
satisfactory evidence, I am entirely bewildered and confused.
Everything I have gathered in my search has confirmed and
strengthened the circumstances against him; and yet, by some
strange perversity, everything I have heard has increased my
conviction of his innocence.

"I write thus to you, because I feel that you are even more deeply
interested in this than your brother. With my friend Lewis it is a
secondary matter, and I am rather pleased that it should be. So
that we are sufficiently satisfied not to withhold our consent to
his engagement with Alice, he has no very engrossing interest in
the matter; but with you--if I am wrong you will pardon me--it
seems more deeply momentous and important. I also feel very greatly
interested in it. If it were but in a professional point of view,
it would claim my utmost attention.

"The evidence is very clear and full. Were it brought before any
jury, there could not be the slightest doubt of the result.--But,
with all the tales of generosity and kindness which yet make your
brother's memory fragrant in the district, and with his own very
moving self-defence still further to counteract it, I have no
hesitation in saying to you that this mass of evidence makes no
impression upon my mind, but the very uneasy and painful one of
doubt and apprehension. There is no certainty in it. All these
things might have remained as they are, and yet your brother's
innocence be triumphantly vindicated--if, indeed, it had not been
for that last fatal step of his flight. Is he now, truly, beyond
the reach of either acquittal or condemnation?--does there remain
only his _name_ to vindicate?

"In the meantime there cannot be any nearer connexion between our
family and yours. I regret it deeply--but it is impossible to
forget that the murdered man is my father, and that while so much
as a doubt remains, we must not dishonor the memory of the dead.
You will understand and feel for us, I am sure. For my mother,
especially, I must beg your sympathy: this matter has most
painfully revived the bitterest time of her life; and while, like
myself, her feelings--both for Alice's sake, and his own--are all
enlisted in favor of your brother, she feels, with me, that until
we have some more satisfactory proof, nearer connexion is
impossible.

"You will forgive me, if I speak harshly. I feel that you will
understand the necessity more calmly than I should wish Lewis to
do; and I am confidant that we can trust in your kind co-operation.
In the meantime, I shall keep my eye on the district, and let no
opportunity of throwing light upon this dark matter pass me. May I
also beg your confidence? If there is any further particular of
importance, trust me with it. So far as my ability goes, I shall
leave no stone unturned; and will, I assure you, betray no
confidence with which you may honor me.

"Believe me, my dear Miss Ross, "Very sincerely yours. "JAMES AYTOUN."

Anne was uneasy and perplexed: this sensible, generous, thoughtful James Aytoun, suspected her secret, and claimed to be trusted with it. Could she withhold it from him? And then, this fallen edifice of hope, with all the sickness of its indefinite deferring--what could be done, indeed? It seemed foolish--it seemed mere madness, the burning desire that rose within her, to hurry to the place herself, and see if the eager eyes of anxiety and sisterly yearning could discover nothing. Alas! were not James Aytoun's eyes eager also? was not his mind trained and practised? It did not matter--Anne felt it impossible to stand still--to wait--until she had convinced herself that there was nothing more to learn. Esther Fleming's eager repetition: "I lookit to you, Miss Anne, I aye lookit to you," came back upon her, like a call from her father's very grave. She wrote hastily to Lewis, begging him to return immediately; and then sat down to consider her plan.--It might be foolish--it might be Quixotic. Possibly she could do no good--but she must try.