The Hill Before Darkness Fell 287

the Spittal and Thrums, but by the time he ar-
rived here he was more communicative, yes, and
thirstier. He was treated to drink in several
public-houses by persons who wanted to hear his
story, and by and by he began to drop hints of
knowing something against the earl’s bride. Do
you know Rob Dow?”

“Yes,” I answered, “and what you have done
for him.”

“ Ah, sir!” he said, sighing, “ for a long time I
thought I was to be God’s instrument in making
a better man of Rob, but my power over him
went long ago. Ten short months of the min-
istry takes some of the vanity out of a man.”

Looking sideways at him I was startled by the
unnatural brightness of his eyes. Unconsciously
he had acquired the habit of pressing his teeth
together in the pauses of his talk, shutting them
on some woe that would proclaim itself, as men
do who keep their misery to themselves.

“A few hours ago,” he went on, “I heard
Rob’s voice in altercation as I passed the Bull
tavern, and I had a feeling that if I failed with
him so should I fail always throughout my min-
istry. I walked into the public-house, and
stopped at the door of a room in which Dow
and the piper were sitting drinking. I heard
Rob saying, fiercely, ‘If what you say about her
is true, Highlandman, she’s the woman I’ve been
looking for this half year and mair; what is she
like?’ I guessed, from what I had been told of
the piper, that they were speaking of the earl’s
bride; but Rob saw me and came to an abrupt
stop, saying to his companion, ‘ Dinna say an-