“I know He will, and may be it was He who sent Mr Todd on to the links this afternoon to meet with me,” answered Donald, who, in his eagerness, was perfectly ready to agree with Janet.
“He orders the steps aright of all who serve Him,” observed Janet.
“Janet speaks the truth,” said David firmly. “I wish that I could go with you.”
“Na! na! my bairn, you are not old eno’ or hardy eno’ to bear the rough life which Donald will ha’ to lead in that strange country,” exclaimed Janet, who was not prepared to lose both of her boys at once. “And oh, it is that terrible sea you will ha’ to cross which troubles me to think of. Is there no other way of getting there?”
“I should be sorry if there was, for I have often longed to sail over the ocean, and I look forward to the voyage with delight,” answered Donald. “You must not think of the danger. Nothing worth having is to be gained without that, in my opinion, and we shall be having you safe on the other side of the ocean before long, I hope, Janet.”
“Na, na, my bairn, you maun come back to me, but that terrible ocean I could ne’er cross.”
Donald no longer pressed that matter, and was content with the full permission Janet gave him to accept Mr Todd’s offer, provided Margaret, on her return home, did not object. The young lady soon arrived, and, to Janet’s surprise, entered at once warmly into Donald’s projects.
That evening, as the family knelt down in prayer, Janet earnestly lifted up her voice in a petition that her bairn might be directed aright, and protected amid the dangers to which he would be exposed.
The next day, before returning to Mr Todd, Donald consulted his kind master, who advised him to accept the offer, and put him in the way of obtaining the instruction he required.
Janet, who had never allowed her charge to discover the means she employed for obtaining their support, told him to set his mind at rest about his outfit, which it had naturally occurred to him he should have a difficulty in obtaining. She at once went to Mr McTavish, who had continued her firm friend. “An excellent opening for the lad,” he answered. “I should be glad to help him, and let him come and shake me by the hand before he starts.”