Monad, molecule, protoplasm, whatever
word may be attached to it when it becomes appreciable by men, being
then, however many stages, I believe, upon its journey, beginning
is an irrepressible fact; and however far from good or humble even
after many days, the man here began to grow good and humble. His
dull unimaginative nature, a perfect lumber room of the world and
its rusting affairs, had received a gift in a dream--a truth
from the lips of the Lord, remodelled in the brain and heart of
the tinker of Elstow, and sent forth in his wondrous parable to
be pictured and printed, and lie in old Hector Crathie's cottage,
that it might enter and lie in young Hector Crathie's brain until
he grew old and had done wrong enough to heed it, when it rose
upon him in a dream, and had its way. Henceforth the claims of
his neighbour began to reveal themselves, and his mind to breed
conscientious doubts and scruples, with which, struggle as he
might against it, a certain respect for Malcolm would keep coming
and mingling--a feeling which grew with its returns, until, by
slow changes, he began at length to regard him as the minister of
God's vengeance--for his punishment,--and perhaps salvation--
who could tell?
Lizzy's nightly ministrations had not been resumed, but she often
called, and was a good deal with him; for Mrs Crathie had learned
to like the humble, helpful girl still better when she found she
had taken no offence at being deprived of her post of honour by
his bedside.
Pages:
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573