They therefore removed
some more of his clothes, laid him down again, and made him as
comfortable as they could, with hot bottles about him. The laird
said he would sit with him, and call Lady Joan if needful. To judge
by her behaviour, he conjectured such a catastrophe was not
altogether strange to her. She went away readily, more like one
relieved than anxious.
But there had arisen in the mind of the laird a fear: might not
Cosmo unwittingly have had some share in the frightful event? When
first he entered the room, there was Cosmo, dressed, and with a
light in his hand: the seeming phosphorescence in the snow must
have been one of his PLOYS, and might not that have been the source
of the shock to the dazed brain of the drinker?
His lordship was breathing more softly and regularly, though every
now and then half waking with a cry--a dreadful thing to hear from
a sleeping OLD MAN. They drew their chairs close to the fire and to
each other, and Cosmo, as was usual with him, laid his hand on his
father's knee.
"Did you observe that peculiar appearance in the snow-heap, on the
other side of the court, Cosmo?" asked the laird.
"Yes, papa," replied the boy: "I made it myself." And therewith he
told him all about it. "You're not vexed with me, are you, papa?"
he added, seeing the laird look grave.
"No, my son," answered his father; "I am only uneasy lest that
should have had anything to do with this sad affair.
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