"I'm training some white heather to grow there," answered Auna.
"White heather's for the living, not the dead, my dear."
They came to table presently, ate well and drank William's health. Jacob grew cheerful during the meal and spoke with hope about his family.
"It's a seemly thing for a man in my position to hand over his worldly goods in his lifetime. Then the new generation comes to understand the meaning and obligations of power and rises to it after the manner born. Very likely, if all had been different and my wife had been spared, we should still have withdrawn ourselves and let the young come into their own."
He preserved an amiable and peaceful manner until the end of dinner and Auna, heartened by his mood, exchanged many pleasantries with William, George and Peter.
Mr. Marydrew praised the little feast when it was ended.
"I've ate far too much for a man my age," he said. "I'm 'filled as the moon at the full,' Auna, and if ill overgets me, the fault is yours. You'd cram your father's oldest friend like a Michaelmas goose."
Hope arose out of that anniversary for the girl. It proved but a respite between storms; yet she could look back to William's birthday and remember an interlude of peace.