"You are a bonnie lassie," said her aunt proudly, "and see you hold up
your own side. You are Ian Macrae's daughter and as good as any lady in
the land. And beware of flattering my Lady in any form or shape. It is
the worst of bad manners, as well as clean against your interests, to
flatter a benefactor. Let them say nice words to you."
Then the carriage was at the door, and Mrs. Caird was there also, and
Marion could hear the usual formalities, and the rustle of clothing and
all the pleasant stir of arriving guests. She sat still until Lady
Cramer entered, then rose to greet her. For a moment there was a slight
hesitation, the next moment Lady Cramer cried, "You are Marion! I know
you, child! I thought you were an angel!"
"Not yet, Lady Cramer."
The right key had been set. Lady Cramer fell at once into a charming,
simple conversation and Dr. Macrae, who feared his daughter would be
shy and uninteresting, was amazed at the cleverness of her conversation
and the self-possession of her manner.
When tea was served, Marion waited upon Lady Cramer. She had given her
father one look of invitation to take her place, but the Minister knew
better than to answer it. The Apostles had refused to serve tables, he
respected his office equally. Spiritually, he sat in the place of honor,
how could he serve anyone with tea and muffins? There was a maid in cap
and apron to perform that duty. The Macraes were a proud family, but it
was not temporal pride that actuated the Minister. In all cases and at
all hours he followed St. Paul's example and "magnified his office." He
had always retired from anything like service, either at home or abroad,
and it would be idle and false not to admit that he was admired and
respected for it. It was honor enough that he condescended to be
present, for in those days the Calvinistic ministry were a grave and
rather haughty religious oligarchy. But they were not to blame; for the
honor of God and their own satisfaction the people made them oligarchs.
After tea Lady Cramer asked Marion to sing for her. "There is a song,"
she said, "that I hear everywhere I go, and never too often. I dare say
you can sing it, Marion. May I call you Marion?"
"I should like you to do so, Lady Cramer. And what is the name of the
song?"
"I cannot tell you; it is about rowing in a boat; it is the music that
charms. My dear, it beats like a human heart."
"I know it," answered Marion and, with a pleased acquiescence, she
played a few chords embodying a wonderful melody, and anon her voice
went with it, as if it was its very own:
"Row, young comrades, row, young oarsmen,
Into the crypt of the night we float;
Fair, faint moonbeams wash and wander,
Wash and wander about the boat.
Not a fetter is here to bind us,
Love and memory lose their spell,
Friends of the home we have left behind us,
Prisoners of content! Farewell!"
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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