“You’re forever and the day thinking, and what comes of it?”
“Something may,” he replied. “Ye’d sober down then,” he said, looking at her speculatively.
“I can’t think what you mean. I’ll sober down for no one, unless it be my mother,” she added softly.
“Ah, your mother, yes.” And again Archie was plunged in thought so that Agnes flung herself off and declared to Jeanie that Archie was going daft.
CHAPTER VIII
ARCHIE’S PLAN
Agnes was right in charging Archie with doing a deal of thinking, for, ever since the meeting-house had become an assured fact, his yearning for the ministry had increased, and he thought of it day and night. In vain did he tell himself that his father needed him; in vain did he call himself unfit, that tugging at his heartstrings would not cease, and at last the lad took his trouble to the minister himself. “It is a call, lad,” said the good man, after he had heard Archie’s hesitating account of himself. “If there’s a way open to you, take it, for the laborers are few.”
“There’d be a way open if my grandfather knew,” said Archie, slowly. “He’s been aye ready to urge me to the step since I was a bit of a lad, and he would help me.”
“Then go and ask your father’s blessing and start forth, and may the Lord of Hosts go with you.”
Archie went home with so serious a face that his father noticed it as the boy came into the workshop and stood before him.