the man from glengarry-第40章
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those people。〃
〃Why not？〃 said Mrs。 Murray。 〃What made him follow？ Now just
think； what made him follow after those people？〃
〃Why； he wanted to get them back；〃 said Hughie。
〃Quite true；〃 said his mother。 〃So you see； he did exactly as he
wanted to。〃
〃Then you mean the Lord had nothing to do with it？〃 asked Ranald。
〃No； I could not say that。〃
〃Then；〃 said Harry； 〃Pharaoh could not help himself。 Now； could
he？〃
〃He did what he wished to do；〃 said his aunt。
〃Yes；〃 said Ranald； quickly； 〃but could he help wishing to do what
he did？〃
〃If he had been a different man； more humble minded； and more
willing to be taught； he would not have wished to do what he did。〃
〃Mother；〃 said Hughie； changing his ground a little； and lowering
his voice； 〃do you think Pharaoh is lost； and all his soldiers；
andand all the people who were bad？〃
Mrs。 Murray looked at him in silence for a few moments； then said；
very sadly； 〃I can't answer that question； Hughie。 I do not know。〃
〃But； mother；〃 persisted Hughie； 〃are not wicked people lost？〃
〃Yes； Hughie；〃 replied his mother； 〃all those who do not repent of
their sins and cry to God for mercy。〃
〃Oh； mother；〃 cried Hughie； 〃forever？〃
His mother did not reply。
〃Will He never let them out； mother？〃 continued Hughie； in piteous
appeal。
〃Listen to me； Hughie；〃 said his mother； very gently。 〃We know
very little about this。 Would you be very sorry； even for very bad
men？〃
〃Oh； mother；〃 cried Hughie； his tender little heart moved with a
great compassion； 〃think of a whole year； all summer long； and all
winter long。 I think I would let anybody out。〃
〃Then； Hughie； dear；〃 said his mother； 〃remember that God is much
kinder than you are； and has a heart far more tender； and while He
will be just and must punish sin； He will do nothing unjust or
unkind； you may be quite sure of that。 Do not forget how He gave
up His own dear son for us。〃
Poor Hughie could bear it no longer。 He put his head in his
mother's lap and sobbed out； 〃Oh； mother； I hope he will let them
out。〃
As he uttered this pitiful little cry； his cousin Harry got up from
his chair； and moved across to the window； while Maimie openly
wiped her eyes； but Ranald sat with his face set hard； and his eyes
gleaming； waiting eagerly for Mrs。 Murray's answer。
The mother stroked Hughie's head softly； and while her tears fell
on the brown curls； said to him； 〃You would not be afraid to trust
your mother； Hughie； and our Father in heaven loves us all much
more than I love you。〃
And with that Hughie was content。
〃Now let us sing one more hymn；〃 said his mother。 〃It's my
choice。〃 And she chose one of the new hymns which they had just
learned in the singing school； and of which Hughie was very fond；
the children's hymn； 〃Come to the Saviour。〃 While they were
singing they heard Mr。 Murray drive into the yard。
〃There's papa；〃 said Mrs。 Murray。 〃He will be tired and hungry；〃
and she hurried out to meet her husband； followed by Harry and
Hughie； leaving Ranald and Maimie in the room together。 Ranald had
never been alone with her before； nor indeed had he ever spent five
minutes of his life alone with any girl before now。 But he did not
feel awkward or shy； he was thinking now； as he had been thinking
now and then through the whole evening； of only one thing； that
Maimie was going away。 That would make a great difference to him；
so great that he was conscious of a heart…sinking at the mere
thought of it。 During the last weeks； his life had come to move
about a center； and that center was Maimie； and now that she was
going away； there would be nothing left。 Nothing； that is； that
really mattered。 But the question he was revolving in his mind
was； would she forget all about him。 He knew he would never forget
her； that was； of course； impossible； for so many things would
remind him of her。 He would never see the moonlight falling
through the trees as it fell that night of the sugaring…off；
without thinking of her。 He would never see the shadows in the
evening； or hear the wind in the leaves； without thinking of her。
The church and the minister's pew； the manse and all belonging to
it would remind him of Maimie。 He would recall how she looked at
different times and places； the turn of her head； the way her hair
fell on her neck； her laugh； the little toss of her chin； and the
curve in her lips。 He would remember everything about her。 Would
she remember him； or would she forget him？ That was the question
burning in his heart； and that question he must have settled； and
this was the time。
But though these thoughts and emotions were rushing through his
brain and blood； he felt strangely quiet and self…controlled as he
walked over to her where she stood beside the piano； and looking
into her eyes with an intensity of gaze she could not meet； said；
in a low； quick voice： 〃You are going away？〃
〃Yes；〃 she replied； so startled that the easy smile with which she
had greeted him faded out of her face。 〃In two weeks I shall be
gone。〃
〃Gone！〃 echoed Ranald。 〃Yes； you will be gone。 Will you forget
me？〃 His tone was almost stern。
〃Why； no；〃 she said； in a surprised voice。 〃Of course not。 Did
not you save my life？ You will be far more likely to forget me。〃
〃No；〃 he said； simply； as if that possibility need not be considered。
〃I will never forget you。 I will always be thinking of you。 Will
you think of me？〃 he persisted。
〃Why； certainly。 Wouldn't I be a very ungrateful girl if I did
not？〃
〃Ungrateful！〃 exclaimed Ranald； impatiently。 〃What I did was
nothing。 Forget that。 Do you not understand me？ I will be
thinking of you every day； in the morning and at night； and I never
thought of any one else before for a day。 Will you be thinking of
me？〃
There was a movement in the kitchen； and they could hear the
minister talking to Harry； and some one was moving toward the door。
〃Tell me； Maimie； quick；〃 said Ranald； and though his voice was
intense and stern； there was appeal in it as well。
She took a step nearer him； and looking up into his face； said； in
a whisper； 〃Yes； Ranald； I will always remember you； and think of
you。〃
Swiftly； almost fiercely； he threw his arms about her； and kissed
her lips； then he stood back looking at her。
〃I could not help it；〃 he said； boldly。 〃You made me。〃
〃Made you？〃 exclaimed Maimie； her face hot with blushes。
〃Yes； you made me。 I could not help it；〃 he repeated。 〃And I do
not care if you are angry。 I am glad I did it。〃
〃Glad？〃 echoed Maimie again； not knowing what to say。
〃Yes； glad；〃 he said； exultantly。 〃Are you？〃
She made no reply。 The door opened behind them。 She sank down
upon the piano…stool and let her hands fall upon the keys。
〃Are you？〃 he demanded； ignoring the interruption。
With her head low down； while she struck the chords of the hymn
they had just sung； she said； hesitatingly； 〃I am not sorry。〃
〃Sorry for what？〃 said Harry。
〃Oh； nothing；〃 said Maimie； lightly。
〃Nobody is； if he has got any sense。〃
Then Mrs。 Murray came in。 〃Won't you stay for supper； Ranald？ You
must be hungry。〃
〃No； thank you；〃 said Ranald。 〃I must go now。〃
He shook hands with an ease and freedom that the minister had never
seen in him； and went out。
〃That young man is coming on；〃 said the minister。 〃I never saw any
one change and develop as he has in the last few months。 Let me
see。 He is only eighteen； isn't he； and he might be twenty…one。〃
The minister spoke as if he were not too well pleased with this
precocity in Ranald。
But little did Ranald care。 That young man was striding homeward
through the night； his head striking the stars。 His path lay
through the woods； and when he came to the 〃sugar camp〃 road； he
stood still； and let the memories of the night when he had snatched
Maimie from the fire troop through his mind。 Suddenly he thought
of Aleck McRae； and laughed aloud。
〃Poor Aleck；〃 he said。 Aleck seemed so harmless to him now。 And
then he stood silent； motionless； looking straight toward the
stars； but seeing them not。 He was remembering Maimie's face when
she said； 〃Yes； Ranal
