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As for me, I wad na change places wi' the Duke o' Athole," and Domsie shook the table to its foundation. Then he awoke, as from a dream, and the shame of boasting that shuts the mouths of self-respecting Scots descended upon him. "But this is fair nonsense. Ye'll no mind the havers o' an auld dominie."
Domsie was only a pedantic old parish schoolmaster, and he knew little beyond his craft, but the spirit of the Humanists awoke within him, and he smote with all his might, bidding goodbye to his English as one flings away the scabbard of a sword. "Ye think that a'm asking a great thing when I plead for a pickle notes to give a puir laddie a college education.
Bind up his sair heart and give him licht at eventide, and may the maister and his scholars meet some mornin' where the schule never skails, in the kingdom o' oor Father." Twice Domsie said Amen, and it seemed as the voice of another man, and then he kissed George upon the forehead; but what they said Marget did not wish to hear.
When he passed out at the garden gate, the westering sun was shining golden, and the face of Domsie was like unto that of a little child. Drumtochty never acquitted itself with credit at a marriage, having no natural aptitude for gaiety, and being haunted with anxiety lest any "hicht" should end in a "howe," but the parish had a genius for funerals.
On one side Domsie sat with the half-dozen lads he hoped to send to college, to whom he grudged no labour, and on the other gathered the very little ones, who used to warm their bare feet at the fire, while down the sides of the room the other scholars sat at their rough old desks, working sums and copying.
Domsie clutched the letter, and would have torn off the envelope. But he could not; his hand was shaking like an aspen. He could only look, and I read: "Dear Mr. Jamieson, The class honour lists are just out, and you will be pleased to know that I have got the medal both in the Humanity and the Greek."
Domsie had got all he asked, and he rose in his strength. "If George Howe disna get to college, then he's the first scholar I've lost in Drumtochty ... ye 'ill manage his keep and sic like?" But what aboot his fees and ither ootgaeins?" "There's ae man in the parish can pay George's fees without missing a penny, and I'll warrant he 'ill dae it."
There were times when he affected indifference, and talked cattle. We then regarded him with awe, because this was more than mortal. It was my luck to carry the bulletin to Domsie, and I learned what he had been enduring. It was good manners in Drumtochty to feign amazement at the sight of a letter, and to insist that it must be intended for some other person.
Wull ye read it, Dominie, for my sake, and maybe ye 'ill come to see " and George could not find words for more. But Domsie understood. "Ma laddie, ma laddie, that I luve better than onythin' on earth, I'll read it till I die, and, George, I'll tell ye what livin' man does na ken. When I was your verra age I had a cruel trial, and ma heart was turned frae faith.
Whinnie glanced at his wife and turned to Domsie. "Marget's set on seein' Geordie a minister, Dominie." "If he's worthy o't, no otherwise. We haena the means though; the farm is highly rented, and there's barely a penny over at the end o' the year." "But you are willing George should go and see what he can do.
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