They rose from their knees, and sat silent for a moment. Then the
guidwife put the pot on the fire with the water for the porridge.
But Donal rose, and walked out of the cottage, half wondering at
himself that he had dared as he had, yet feeling he had done but the
most natural thing in the world.

"Hoo a body 's to win throuw the day wantin' the lord o' the day an'
the hoor an' the minute, 's 'ayont me!" he said to himself, and
hastened away.

Ere noon the blue line of the far ocean rose on the horizon.




CHAPTER IV.

THE TOWN.

Donal was queer, some of my readers will think, and I admit it; for
the man who regards the affairs of life from any other point than
his own greedy self, must be queer indeed in the eyes of all who are
slaves to their imagined necessities and undisputed desires.

It was evening when he drew nigh the place whither he had directed
his steps--a little country town, not far from a famous seat of
learning: there he would make inquiry before going further. The
minister of his parish knew the minister of Auchars, and had given
him a letter of introduction. The country around had not a few
dwellings of distinction, and at one or another of these might be