“An’ what micht ye think the probability gien they had come intil a lot o’ siller whan their father dee’d?”
“Maybe they micht hae gane the same gait he gaed!”
“Was there injustice than, or was there favour i’ that veesitation o’ the sins o’ their father upo’ them?”
There was no answer. The toddy went down their throats and the smoke came out of their mouths, but no one dared acknowledge it might be a good thing to be born poor instead of rich. So entirely was the subject dropped that Donal feared he had failed to make himself understood. He did not know the general objection to talking of things on eternal principles. We set up for judges of right while our very selves are wrong! He saw that he had cast a wet blanket over the company, and judged it better to take his leave.
Borrowing a wheelbarrow, he trundled his chest home, and unpacking it in the archway, carried his books and clothes to his room.
CHAPTER X
THE PARISH CLERGYMAN.
The next day, Donal put on his best coat, and went to call on the minister. Shown into the study, he saw seated there the man he had met on his first day’s journey, the same who had parted from him in such displeasure. He presented his letter.
Mr. Carmichael gave him a keen glance, but uttered no word until he had read it.
“Well, young man,” he said, looking up at him with concentrated severity, “what would you have me do?”
“Tell me of any situation you may happen to know or hear of, sir,” said Donal. “That is all I could expect.”