"I must ask you, doctor, to take my motives on trust for the present. I
assure you I think they are good ones. But I came here this morning to
speak of David Promoter. I have been staying with him for some weeks. I
respect and admire him. I desire out of my abundance to help him."
"He is a proud lad. I doubt if he will let you."
"He is quite willing that I should have this pleasure, if he has your
permission. I wish him to go to Glasgow this autumn; he says you told him
to stay in the boats for a year."
"I did; but I may have made a mistake. I thought he was a little uplifted
with himself. He spoke as if he were needful to the church--but the lad
may have felt the spirit in him. I would not dare to try and quench it.
Your offer is a providence; it is as if God put out his own hand and
Opened the kirk door for him. Tell David Promoter I said, 'Go to Glasgow,
and the Lord go with thee.' But what is to come of his sister? She is a
very handsome girl," and he looked sharply at Allan, "is she going to
marry?"
"I have asked nothing concerning that question, sir."
"I am very glad to hear you say that; glad for her sake, glad for yours
also."
Then the subject of the Promoters was gradually dropped; although Allan
spent the day at Kinkell manse. For the doctor was a man with a vivid
mind. Though he was old he liked to talk to young men, liked to hear them
tell of their studies, and friendships, and travels, and taste through
their eager conversation the flavor of their fresher life. Allan remained
with him until near sunset, then in the warm, calm gloaming, he slowly
took the homeward route, down the precipitous crags and hills.
At a sudden turn of the path near the beach, he saw Maggie. She sat upon a
rock so directly beneath him that he could have let his handkerchief fall
into her lap. Her arms were dropped, her attitude listless; without seeing
her face, Allan was certain that her eyes were sad, and her long gaze at
the incoming tide full of melancholy. He was just going to speak, when he
saw a man coming toward her at a rapid pace. It was Angus Raith, and Allan
was conscious of a sharp pang of annoyance and jealousy.
He had no intention to watch them, neither had he any desire to meet Angus
while he was with Maggie. That would have been a little triumph for Angus,
which Allan did not intend to give him. So he determined to remain where
he was until they had either parted or gone away together. He was
undoubtedly angry. It never struck him that the meeting might be an
accidental one. He was certain that, for some reason or other, Maggie had
an appointment with her well-known admirer; and he said bitterly to
himself, "Like to like, why should I have the heart-ache about her?"