"I'm too old to go to school."

"I dinna ken the man 'at isna a bairn till _him_, my lord."

"In Greek and Latin?"

"I' richteousness an' trouth, my lord--in what's been an' what is to
be."

"What! has he the second sight, like the piper?"

"He _has_ the second sicht, my lord, but ane 'at gangs a sicht farther
nor my auld daddy's."

"He could tell me, then, what's going to become of me?"

"As weel 's ony man, my lord."

"That's not saying much, I fear."

"Maybe mair nor ye think, my lord."

"Well, take him my compliments and tell him I should like to see him,"
said the marquis after a minute's silence.

"He'll come direckly, my lord."

"Of course he will," said the marquis.

"Jist as readily, my lord, as he wad gang to ony tramp 'at sent for
'im at sic a time," returned Malcolm, who did not relish either the
remark or its tone.

"What do you mean by that? _You_ don't think it such a serious affair,
do you?"

"My lord, ye haena a chance."

The marquis was dumb. He had actually begun once more to buoy himself
up with earthly hopes.

Dreading a recall of his commission, Malcolm slipped from the room,
sent Mrs. Courthope to take his place, and sped to the schoolmaster.
The moment Mr. Graham heard the marquis's message he rose without
a word and led the way from the cottage. Hardly a sentence passed
between them as they went, for they were on a solemn errand.

"Mr. Graham's here, my lord," said Malcolm.

"Where? Not in the room?" returned the marquis.

"Waitin' at the door, my lord."

"Bah! You needn't have been so ready. Have you told the sexton to get
a new spade? But you may let him in; and leave him alone with me."

Mr. Graham walked gently up to the bedside.

"Sit down, sir," said the marquis courteously, pleased with the calm,
self-possessed, unobtrusive bearing of the man. "They tell me I'm
dying, Mr. Graham."

"I'm sorry it seems to trouble you, my lord."

"What! wouldn't it trouble you, then?"

"I don't think so, my lord."

"Ah! you're one of the elect, no doubt?"

"That's a thing I never did think about, my lord."

"What do you think about, then?"

"About God."

"And when you die you'll go straight to heaven, of course?"

"I don't know, my lord. That's another thing I never trouble my head
about."

"Ah! you're like me, then. _I_ don't care much about going to heaven.
What do you care about?"

"The will of God. I hope your lordship will say the same."

"No I won't: I