Dan was unmoved. His countenance did not bend as he said slowly, and in a low tone, "If you don't do it, sir, I shall never look into Ewan's face again."
The Deemster fixed his buckles, rose to his feet, slapped Dan on the back, and said: "Go home, man veen, go home," and then hurried away to the kitchen, where in another moment his testy voice could be heard directing Hommy-beg to put up the saddle on the "lath."
Mona looked into Dan's face. "Will you be reconciled to Ewan now?" she said, and took both his hands and held them.
"No," he answered firmly, "I will see the Bishop." His eyes were dilated; his face, that had hitherto been very mournful to see, was alive with a strange fire. Mona held his hands with a passionate grasp.
"Dan," she said, with a great tenderness, "this is very, very noble of you; this is like our Dan, this—"
She stopped; she trembled and glowed; her eyes were close to his.
"Don't look at me like that," he said.
She dropped his hands, and at the next instant he was gone from the house.
Dan found the Bishop at Bishop's Court, and told him all. The Bishop had heard the story already, but he said nothing of that. He knew when Dan hid his provocation and painted his offense at its blackest. With a grave face he listened while Dan accused himself, and his heart heaved within him.
"It is a serious offense," he said; "to strike a minister is a grievous offense, and the Church provides a censure."