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"The very mountains seemed Caledonian with a kinder climate. The kilt, though white, the spare active form, their dialect, Celtic in its sound, and their hardy habits, all carried me back to Morven.
"Alas!" said Morven, when, at the next day, he again met the aspiring prince; "alas! the stars have ordained me a lot which my heart desires not; for I, lonely of life, and crippled of shape, am insensible to the fires of love; and ever, as thou and thy tribe know, I have shunned the eyes of women, for the maidens laughed at my halting step and my sullen features; and so in my youth I learned betimes to banish all thoughts of love.
There was a lad called Jurgen, the son of Coth of the Rocks, who came to Storisende in a frenzy of terror, very early the next morning, with a horrific tale of incredible events witnessed upon Upper Morven: but the child's tale was not heeded, because everybody knew that Count Manuel was unconquerable, and having everything which men desire, would never be leaving all these amenities of his own will, and certainly would never be taking part in any such dubious doings.
Linley declared. "Let us hope not," Randal said, gravely. The members of the family at Mount Morven consulted together, before Sydney Westerfield was informed of her brother's disappearance and of her mother's death. Speaking first, as master of the house, Herbert Linley offered his opinion without hesitation.
Scoville paused, hesitated, and finally resolved to consult the pastor, promising Etta her answer before Sunday came round. He would have given an unqualified refusal had the petitioner been any one else than his employer's daughter. Mr. Morven, the pastor, however, thought differently.
"That thou sacrifice thy sister on their altars thou must build up a heap of stones, and take thy sister into the wood, and lay her on the pile, and plunge thy sword into her heart; so only shalt then reign." The prince shuddered, and started to his feet, and shook his spear at the pale front of Morven. "Tremble," said the son of Osslah, with a loud voice.
And Morven gazed upon her with the eyes of love, but he did not dare to speak. Now the son of Osslah laughed secretly at the foolishness of men; he loved them not, for they had mocked him; he honored them not, for he had blinded the wisest of their elders. He shunned their feasts and merriment and lived apart and solitary.
Now Some of Poictesme but not all they of Poictesme, because the pious deny this portion of the tale, and speak of an ascension, some narrate that after the appalling eucharist which young Jurgen witnessed upon Upper Morven, the Redeemer of Poictesme rode on a far and troubling journey with Grandfather Death, until the two had passed the sunset, and had come to the dark stream of Lethe.
Then the hawk put its beak to Morven's ear, and Morven bowed his head submissively; and the hawk rested with Morven from that moment and would not be scared away. And Morven said: "The stars have sent me this bird, that, in the day-time, when I see them not, we may never be without a counsellor in distress."
Morven, who occasionally said a few words concerning the sacredness of the place, and managed to give the whole affair the appearance of a happy service of the Lord and his church, so that each boy and girl went away with a share of the gladness of those who work for God. The Thanksgiving congregation was an unusually large one.
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