Miss St. John was ready in a moment. The coach
was waiting for them at the end of the grassy road that led from the
house. Hector put them all inside. Before they reached Rothieden
the events of the night began to wear the doubtful aspect of a
dream. No allusion was made to what had occurred while Robert
slept; but all the journey Ericson felt towards Miss St. John as
Wordsworth felt towards the leech-gatherer, who, he says, was
like a man from some far region sent,
To give me human strength, by apt admonishment.
And Robert saw a certain light in her eyes which reminded him of how
she looked when, having repented of her momentary hardness towards
him, she was ministering to his wounded head.
CHAPTER XVII.
HOME AGAIN.
When Robert opened the door of his grandmother's parlour, he found
the old lady seated at breakfast. She rose, pushed back her chair,
and met him in the middle of the room; put her old arms round him,
offered her smooth white cheek to him, and wept. Robert wondered
that she did not look older; for the time he had been away seemed an
age, although in truth only eight months.
'Hoo are ye, laddie?' she said. 'I'm richt glaid, for I hae been
thinkin' lang to see ye. Sit ye doon.'
Betty rushed in, drying her hands on her apron. She had not heard
him enter.
'Eh losh!' she cried, and put her wet apron to her eyes. 'Sic a man
as ye're grown, Robert! A puir body like me maunna be speykin to ye
noo.
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