“My father will take your lordship’s offer,” said Cosmo.
“I was on the point of making a fool of myself, and adding another fifty to be certain of getting rid of you; but I came to the conclusion it was a piece of cowardice, and that, as I had so long stood the dirty hovel at my gate because I couldn’t help it, I might just as well let you find your own way out of the parish.”
“I am sure from your lordship’s point of view you were right,” said Cosmo. “We shall content ourselves, anyhow, with the two hundred.”
“Indeed you will not! Did I not tell you I would not be bound by the offer? I have changed my mind, and mean to wait for the sale.”
“I beg your pardon. I did not quite understand your lordship.”
“You do now, I trust!”
“Perfectly, my lord,” replied Cosmo, and turning away left his lordship grinning over the gate. But he had a curious look, almost as if he were a little ashamed of himself—as if he had only been teasing the young fellow, and thought perhaps he had gone too far. For Cosmo, in such peace was his heart, that he was not even angry with the man.
On his way home, the hope awoke, and began once more to whisper itself, that they might not be able to sell the place at all; that some other way would be provided for their leaving it; and that, when he was an old man, he would be allowed to return to die in it. But up started his conscience, jealously watchful lest hope should undermine submission, or weaken resolve. God might indeed intend they should not be driven from the old house! but he kept Abraham going from place to place, and never let him own a foot of land, except so much as was needful to bury his dead. And there was our Lord: he had not a place to lay his head, and had to go out of doors to pray to his father in secret! The only things to be anxious about were, that God’s will should be done, and that it should not be modified by any want of faith or obedience or submission on his part. Then it would be God’s very own will that was done, and not something composite, in part rendered necessary by his opposition. If God’s pure will was done, he must equally rejoice whether that will took or gave the castle!
And so he returned to his father.
When he told him the result of his visit, the laird expressed no surprise.