"He opens many doors for me. One door I fain would have open, but He opens it not. I know He will do it on the Great Surprise day, and till then I wait patiently and serenely, being assured verily that were I to have all doors unlocked now, I should lose that goodly champion Hope." "This one closed door has many crowds about it. Some tamper with the lock and endeavour to spy through the keyhole. They do not endeavour long, but depart with high head and pouting lips; saying that because of their inability to see through to the other side, there remaineth no other side at all." "And others sit down and weave imaginary conceits about it which they pass on proudly to the unimaginative ones." "And I, with my hand in the Almighty one, have learned and am still learning daily how to love the Unseen Presence which leads and surrounds me." "I know His keys will be used as He sees fit." "And one day that last door shall be opened to me." "Till then I am content to smile and trust and wait." "I like it," said Rowena emphatically. "It is sound philosophy. I have no patience with those who have cravings for the moon. Nor do I wish just yet to attain all my desires. Hope is a goodly companion. I suppose this experience is yours. You told me a new world had opened out to you and taken possession of you." "It's my aim to make it mine," General Macdonald said slowly. Then he gave a short laugh. "Meanwhile I think great thoughts, and lose my temper at the least provocation! I nearly swore at the child this morning! Her continual motion gets on my nerves. Thank goodness Miss Falconer will keep her quiet for half every day now. She's an ideal companion when one wants to lounge or laze, but not when one wants to read and attend to business matters. And in the early morning I'm testy and crusty—always have been." "I do like you when you're human," said Rowena, laughing. "Why is it that absolutely perfect people never appeal to one? I suppose one likes to be surprised. The dead monotony of the virtuous good ..." He put out his hand as if to stop her. "Don't!" he said. "There's no chance of monotony with the best people in the world! They ought always to be rising higher." Rowena gave a little groan. "I hope you won't try to rise to a higher plane than your present one. You are quite far-away from me as it is." He shook his head. "Have you heard of the Hermit of Abertarlie? You ought to bring him into your book." "No, do tell me." "He made himself a hut at the bottom of the glen. If you look opposite you'll see a very old oak down by the edge of the loch." "I know it well. There are not many trees that I do not know. I lie here and look-out at them all day long. Was his hut over there?"