The red-headed one grinned complacently and continued on his way,
whistling as he went. There was about him no suggestion of a harbinger
of bad tidings; the sun shone from a cloudless sky, and awoke sparkling
reflections in the water; the scene was one of unbroken peace and
happiness, and yet, and yet,--some shadow seemed to have fallen on
Margot's soul, so that she could no longer take any interest in the mere
throwing of stones. Her heart followed the footsteps of the messenger
down the winding path, and stood still as he entered the inn.
"What is it, little girl? You look as if you had seen a ghost!"
The Chieftain stood observing her with an expression of kindly concern,
for the pretty face had turned white beneath its tan, and the brown eyes
were wide and tense, as if beholding something hidden from ordinary
gaze. She gazed fixedly, not back in his face, but past him down the
lane towards the inn.
"I'm--afraid! I feel it is not good news. It means trouble--big
trouble! It is hanging over me like a cloud!"
He looked at her swiftly, and his face changed.
"Come then," he said quietly, "we will go back. If it is trouble, we
may be able to help. I never ignore presentiments; they are sent to us
all from time to time, and if we are faithful we obey them, like a
summons. One came to me years ago. It was late at night, and I was
just off to bed, when suddenly it came--the remembrance of a friend far
off; the insistent remembrance; the certainty that he needed me, and
that I must hasten to help. By all the laws of common sense I should
have shrugged my shoulders and gone to sleep; but what are we, to judge
by our own poor knowledge the great unknown forces of God? I went out
there and then, caught a midnight train, and was at his house by seven
in the morning. His wife met me on the stair and said, `How did you
know?' ... He lay dying in his bed, and all that night he had been
calling for me. There was something I could do for him, better than any
one else. He wished to place it in my hands before he went, and God had
mercifully provided the opportunity. Never say that anything is
impossible in this world, little girl! According to your faith so shall
it be unto you."
Margot did not answer except by a faint, strained smile. Her eyes were
fixed upon the doorway of the inn, waiting for the reappearance of the
messenger, but he did not come, and the delay lent weight to her
apprehension.