Here Mr. Graeme joined them.
“I do not think the earl will last many days,” said Donal. “It would be well, it seems to me, at once upon his death to take possession of the house in the town. It is the only property that goes with the title. And of course you would at once take up your abode in the castle! You will find in the earl’s papers many proofs, I imagine, that his son has no claim. I would have a deed of gift drawn up, but would rather you seemed to come in by natural succession. We are not bound to tell the world everything; we are only bound to be able without shame to tell it everything. And then I shall have a favour to ask: Morven House, down in the town, is of no great use to you: let me rent it of you. I should like to live there and have a school, with Davie for my first pupil. When we get another, we will try to make a man of him too. We will not care so much about making a great scholar, or a great anything of him, but a true man. We will try to help the whole man of him into the likeness of the one man.”
Here Mr. Graeme broke in.
“You will never make a living that way!” he said.
Donal opened his eyes and looked at him. Like one convicted and ashamed, the eyes of the man of business fell before those of the man of God.
“Ah,” said Donal, “you have not an idea, Mr. Graeme, on how little I could live!—Here, you had better take the will,” he added, pulling it from his pocket.
Mr. Graeme hesitated.
“If you would rather not, I will keep it. I would throw it in the fire, but either you or I must keep it for a time as against all chances.”
Mr. Graeme took it.
That night the earl died.