登陆注册
15464900000093

第93章 CHAPTER XXI(4)

Coley stood looking after him for a few moments in silence, and then said to himself, in a voice full of emphasis: "Well, there's just one of his kind and there ain't any other." Then he set out at a run for the Institute.

It was Kate herself who came to answer Ranald's ring.

"I knew it was you," she cried, with her hand eagerly outstretched and her face alight with joy. "Come in, we are all waiting for you, and prepare to be surprised." When they came to the drawing-room she flung open the door and with great ceremony announced "The man from Glengarry, as Harry would say.""Hello, old chap!" cried Harry, springing to his feet, but Ranald ignored him. He greeted Kate's mother warmly for she had shown him a mother's kindness ever since he had come to the city, and they were great friends, and then he turned to Mrs. Murray, who was standing waiting for him, and gave her both his hands.

"I knew from Kate's letter," he said, "that it would be you, and Icannot tell you how glad I am." His voice grew a little unsteady and he could say no more. Mrs. Murray stood holding his hands and looking into his face.

"It cannot be possible," she said, "that this is Ranald Macdonald!

How changed you are!" She pushed him a little back from her. "Let me look at you; why, I must say it, you are really handsome!""Now, auntie," cried Harry, reprovingly, "don't flatter him. He is utterly ruined now by every one, including both Kate and her mother.""But really, Harry," continued Mrs. Murray, in a voice of delighted surprise, "it is certainly wonderful; and I am so glad! And I have been hearing about your work with the boys at the Institute, and Icannot tell you the joy it gave me."

"Oh, it is not much that I have done," said Ranald, deprecatingly.

"Indeed, it is a noble work and worthy of any man," said Mrs.

Murray, earnestly, "and I thank God for you.""Then," said Ranald, firmly, "I owe it all to yourself, for it is you that set me on this way.""Listen to them admiring each other! It is quite shameless," said Harry.

Then they began talking about Glengarry, of the old familiar places, of the woods and the fields, of the boys and girls now growing into men and women, and of the old people, some of whom were passed away. Before long they were talking of the church and all the varied interests centering in it, but soon they went back to the theme that Glengarry people everywhere are never long together without discussing--the great revival. Harry had heard a good deal about it before, but to Kate and her mother the story was mostly new, and they listened with eager interest as Mrs. Murray and Ranald recalled those great days. With eyes shining, and in tones of humble, grateful wonder they reminded each other of the various incidents, the terrors, the struggles, the joyful surprises, the mysterious powers with which they were so familiar during those eighteen months. Then Mrs. Murray told of the permanent results;how over three counties the influence of the movement was still felt, and how whole congregations had been built up under its wonderful power.

"And did you hear," she said to Ranald, "that Donald Stewart was ordained last May?""No," replied Ranald; "that makes seven, doesn't it?""Seven what?" said Kate.

"Seven men preaching the Gospel to-day out of our own congregation,"replied Mrs. Murray.

"But, auntie," cried Harry, "I have always thought that all that must have been awfully hard work.""It was," said Ranald, emphatically; and he went on to sketch Mrs.

Murray's round of duties in her various classes and meetings connected with the congregation.

"Besides what she has to do in the manse!" exclaimed Harry; "but it's a mere trifle, of course, to look after her troop of boys.""How can you do it?" said Kate, gazing at her in admiring wonder.

"It isn't so terrible as Harry thinks. That's my work, you see, said Mrs. Murray; "what else would I do? And when it goes well it is worth while.""But, auntie, don't you feel sometimes like getting away and having a little fun? Own up, now.""Fun?" laughed Mrs. Murray.

"Well, not fun exactly, but a good time with things you enjoy so much, music, literature, and that sort of thing. Do you remember, Kate, the first time you met auntie, when we took her to Hamlet?"Kate nodded.

"She wasn't quite sure about it, but I declare till I die I will never forget the wonder and the delight in her face. I tell you Iwept that night, but not at the play. And how she criticised the actors; even Booth himself didn't escape," continued Harry; "and so I say it's a beastly shame that you should spend your whole life in the backwoods there and have so little of the other sort of thing.

Why you are made for it!"

"Harry," answered Mrs. Murray, in surprise, "that was my work, given me to do. Could I refuse it? And besides after all, fun, as you say, passes; music stops; books get done with; but those other things, the things that Ranald and I have seen, will go on long after my poor body is laid away.""But still you must get tired," persisted Harry.

同类推荐
  • 阎典史传

    阎典史传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 小儿吐泻门

    小儿吐泻门

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 珞琭子三命消息赋注

    珞琭子三命消息赋注

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 林野奇禅师语录

    林野奇禅师语录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 香宋杂记

    香宋杂记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
热门推荐
  • 星泪:坠下之约

    星泪:坠下之约

    十年前,他为了她,不惜一切,带她逃走。为了找她,牺牲自由,隐藏十年。十年后,他得知她还活着,欣喜若狂的飞往她的身边。可她却不记得以前所有,他的一步步靠近,换来她的逃离?当她看见他手中的吊坠,留下了莫名的眼泪。解开了揪心身世。一场意外,她想起了一切?她该何去何从......“小溪,对不起.....”他就这样垂下了手。“溪儿,跟我走吧!”落花与流水,执手之人......坠似泪,又如何.......
  • 白色眷恋

    白色眷恋

    因为不满皇马6比2的比分,中国青年律师沈星怒砸啤酒瓶,结果电光火石间,他穿越成了佛罗伦蒂诺的儿子,且看来自09年的小伙子如何玩转03年的欧洲足坛
  • 万古神王

    万古神王

    御灵大陆,御灵师为尊。御魂境、御元境、御法境、御天境、御圣境、御真境、御神境,七大境界,一境一重天!周牧野运道逆天,绝境之中得生命神树,谱写强者篇章!周牧野奋斗十多年,从小山村走出,战妖兽,闯部落,崛起无尽山脉。今为北灵大陆四大天级势力之一——朱雀城内门弟子!故事,从半步御天境开始!
  • 与美同邻

    与美同邻

    与美女邻居从相遇到相知最后最后到相爱的故事。。
  • 超越精神:论企业家自我的发展

    超越精神:论企业家自我的发展

    本书分为企业家自我发展的特征和规律、当代中国企业家自我发展的历程及其反思两篇,描述了当代中国企业家自我发展的历程。
  • 魔龙王变

    魔龙王变

    魔王弑神,龙王明斗的精神力量竟然同时降临在同一个普通孤儿的身上,仙魔大陆上,宗门林立,门派丛生,秘籍繁杂,君杰该如何寻弑父仇人?
  • 青灵果

    青灵果

    一百年前。寻找青灵果的小子意外的吃掉红麟果,变成半妖之身,不得已在时间圣地修行了数年,可不想出来之后早已过去一百年之久。因为一场意外被一家人收留,三年后前往圣都的魔法学院,而故事正从这所学院开始了......
  • 平凡中独秀

    平凡中独秀

    《平凡中独秀》中的文字先以平凡为切入点,讲述了世间的人情冷暖。而在这样冷暖之下并非一个人独秀,对于整个社会而言每个人都是一枝独秀,都是别具一格的独特存在。在这样的平凡之下又埋下了很多隐晦的玄笔。为此第二卷将以玄幻的形式呈现给读者。《平凡中独秀之创世纪》将在《平淡中独秀》完本后续写。石子文将以天魁星转世成了创世纪之主的全新身份问世,龙小四更是天机星的转世成了一代军师……天阙破碎,众神封印,当玛雅预言被证实,众神时代再次兴起,石子文将会何去何从,请拭目以待。
  • 宇宙未解之谜

    宇宙未解之谜

    仰望苍穹,环顾四野,人们看到的是苍茫辽阔而没有尽头的空间,这个空间被人们定义为“宇宙”。关于宇宙,《淮南子》中有语:“上下天地为宇,古往今来曰宙。”即是说宇是指空间,宙是指时间。人们置身于“上下天地”中,但是却总是无法真正地看清宇宙的真面目。人们对宇宙的探索经过了漫长的过程。最早的探索,表现在美丽的神话故事当中。中国的“盘古开天地”、“女娲补天”都是描述天地如何形成的故事。而在西方文明当中,上帝六天创造世界的故事也被世代流传,并且曾经被认为是世界的开始和起源。随着人类文明智慧的发展,人们开始掌握一些自然的规律并且学会利用这些规律。
  • 不败狂神

    不败狂神

    这是一个废弃的开头,请大家看肥勒新书——九界神帝