“I will go to him, at any rate, and do what I can. I will faithfully help him, if he will let me—so help me God.”
“I’m not feared for him now. You’re strong and wise, and you can do what you like with Willie.”
John did not seem to see the hand she held out to him. Allison went on:
“When he speaks of me, as he’ll be sure to do, just hear him and say nothing till you are sure that he’ll listen to reason—till he promises not to try to see me, but to have patience and wait. I can trust him to you, John Beaton, and I must go now.”
He could not this time refuse to see the hand she held out to him. He took it in his and held it fast, while she looked at him with eyes full of light and longing. “John,” said she softly, “ye’ll mind what is said in the Book: ‘I was in prison and ye came unto me.’” And then she turned to go.
It must be owned that was a sore moment to John Beaton. He neither spoke nor moved while she stood thus, nor when she bent down, kissed his mother’s hand, and then without a word went away. For a time, which he did not measure, but which seemed long to his mother, he stood leaning on the back of her chair. His face was hidden in his hands, but happily she did not know that, and she waited till the first word should be spoken by him. In a little he “pulled himself together,” and came forward into the light, which was but dim at the best. He snuffed the solitary candle, and then fell to stirring the fire, which, never very large, was in danger of disappearing under his hand. He added a dry peat, however, and it soon blazed up again.
“Yon’s a strange story, mother,” he said at last. “I hardly see the good of my meddling in it. I suppose I must go and see the man, anyway.”
“Yes, ye canna do less than that,” said his mother. “I’ll do more. I’ll do my best to help one who seems much in need of help, but I cannot say that I am very hopeful as to what may come of it.”
“Ye’ll see when ye go what can be done. Poor lassie. Her heart is in it.”
“Yes,” said John, “her heart is in it.” And then they sat silent till another knock came at the door.