"It's a mark o' indwellin' sin. To the law and to the testimony�-Gang awa' and lat me to my prayers."
They obeyed; for either they felt that nothing but his prayers would do, or they were awed, and dared not remain.
Mr Cupples could wait. Thomas could not.
The Forlorn Hope of men must storm the walls of Heaven.
Amongst those who sit down at the gate till one shall come and open it, are to be found both the wise and the careless children.
CHAPTER LXXXIX.
Mr Cupples returned to his work, for the catalogue had to be printed.
The weeks and months passed on, and the time drew nigh when it would be no folly to watch the mail-coach in its pride of scarlet and gold, as possibly bearing the welcome letter announcing Alec's return. At length, one morning, Mrs Forbes said:
"We may look for him every day now, Annie."
She did not know with what a tender echo her words went roaming about in Annie's bosom, awaking a thousand thought-birds in the twilight land of memory, which had tucked their heads under their wings to sleep, and thereby to live.