"I willna be feared to say all that is in my heart to Him. He knows a mither's heart, and the griefs it tholes and carries. I canna expect you to know how love feels when it is scorned, and made little o'."
"I know something of that same sorrow, Margot. I gave the love of my life to one who scorned it. Only God knew my sorrow, but He was sufficient for my comfort. There is only one way of conquering wrongs against love, Margot."
Margot did not speak, and after a moment's pause, he asked, "Do you want to know that way?"
"No, Sir. If it is your way, I'm no able to follow it."
"Suppose you try. You think your youngest son has treated you badly?"
"Ay, I'm sure o' it, and he's treated his feyther and his brothers badly, and his one sister worse than a'. How can folk forget injuries that tread love under feet? They canna do it."
"They can. Do you want to know how? Do you want to know how I did it?"
"I couldna walk in your shoon, Sir. They're o'er big for me."
"Tell Mither, Sir. Tell her, she'll maybe find it easier than she thinks; and maybe I could help her;" and Christine went and stood by her mother's chair, and drew her mother's head close to her breast, and kissed her softly, as she whispered, "Ask the Domine what to do wi' wrangs ye canna bear, and canna pay back?"
"That's the sair part, Sir. Christine has touched the raw. If any man or woman in the village scorns or wrangs me, I can gie them as gude as they send--words or blows--and I wad do it! Yes, I would!"
"Have you given up your kirk membership, Margot?"
"No, Sir, I hae done naething yet, requiring me to do sae; but it's hard saying what I might be driven to, if somebody doesna mak' Jess Morrison quit meddling wi' my family affairs--the lying hizzy!"
"Margot! Margot! My friend Margot! You astonish me, you trouble me!"
"Weel, Domine, I'm very sorry to trouble you. I wad rather trouble the hale village than you. What do you want me to do?"
"Just to try for one month, my plan of treating any injustice, or injury, I receive."
"Weel then, what is your plan? I'm no promising to do what I'm vera sure is far oot o' my way, but if you had been injured on every side o' your heart, as I hae been, what would you do?"
"When I receive an injury, Margot, I think it calmly over, and I am sure to find some excuse for part of it--the rest I forgive."