358 The Little Minister

“Mr. Ogilvy,” he cried, “ I will not allow you
to do this for me.”

“For you?” I said, bitterly. “It is not for
you.”

I would have gone at once, but he got in front
of me, asking, “ Did you ever know my mother?”

“ Long ago,” I answered, shortly, and he said
no more, thinking, I suppose, that he knew all. He
limped to the door with me, and I had only ad-
vanced a few steps when I understood better than
before what were the dangers I was to venture into.
Since I spoke to Waster Lunny the river had
risen several feet, and even the hillocks in his
turnip field were now submerged. The mist was
creeping down the hills. But what warned me
most sharply that the flood was not satisfied yet
was the top of the schoolhouse dyke; it was
lined with field-mice. I turned back, and Gavin,
mistaking my meaning, said I did wisely.

“TY have not changed my mind,” I told him,
and then had some difficulty in continuing. “I
expect,” I said, “to reach Thrums safely, even
though I should be caught in the mist, but I shall
have to go round by the Kelpie brig in order to
get across the river, and it is possible that — that
something may befall me.’

I have all my life been something of a coward,
and my voice shook when I said this, so that
Gavin again entreated me to remain at the
schoolhouse, saying that if I did not he would
accompany me.

“And so increase my danger tenfold?” I
pointed out. “No, no, Mr. Dishart, I go
alone; and if I can do nothing with the con-