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very poverty he was sacred in his eyes。 The human heart awakened
the filialreversing thus the ordinary process of Nature； who by
means of the filial； when her plans are unbroken； awakes the human；
and he reproached himself bitterly for his hardness； as he now
judged his late mental conditionunfairly； I think。 He soon had
him safe in bed； unconscious of the helping hands that had been busy
about him in his heedless sleep； unconscious of the radiant planet
of love that had been folding him round in its atmosphere of
affection。
But while he thus ministered； a new question arose in his mindto
meet with its own new； God…given answer。 What if this should not be
the man after all？if this love had been spent in mistake； and did
not belong to him at all？ The answer was； that he was a man。 The
love Robert had given he could not； would not withdraw。 The man who
had been for a moment as his father he could not cease to regard
with devotion。 At least he was a man with a divine soul。 He might
at least be somebody's father。 Where love had found a moment's rest
for the sole of its foot； there it must build its nest。
When he had got him safe in bed； he sat down beside him to think
what he would do next。 This sleep gave him very needful leisure to
think。 He could determine nothingnot even how to find out if he
was indeed his father。 If he approached the subject without guile；
the man might be fearful and cunningmight have reasons for being
so； and for striving to conceal the truth。 But this was the first
thing to make sure of； because； if it was he； all the hold he had
upon him lay in his knowing it for certain。 He could not think。 He
had had little sleep the night before。 He must not sleep this
night。 He dragged his bath into his sitting…room； and refreshed his
faculties with plenty of cold water； then lighted his pipe and went
on thinkingnot without prayer to that Power whose candle is the
understanding of man。 All at once he saw how to begin。 He went
again into the chamber； and looked at the man； and handled him； and
knew by his art that a waking of some sort was nigh。 Then he went
to a corner of his sitting…room； and from beneath the table drew out
a long box； and from the box lifted Dooble Sandy's auld wife； tuned
the somewhat neglected strings； and laid the instrument on the
table。
When； keeping constant watch over the sleeping man； he judged at
length that his soul had come near enough to the surface of the
ocean of sleep to communicate with the outer world through that
bubble his body； which had floated upon its waves all the night
unconscious； he put his chair just outside the chamber door； which
opened from his sitting…room； and began to play gently； softly； far
away。 For a while he extemporized only； thinking of Rothieden； and
the grandmother； and the bleach…green； and the hills； and the waste
old factory； and his mother's portrait and letters。 As he dreamed
on； his dream got louder； and； he hoped； was waking a more and more
vivid dream in the mind of the sleeper。 'For who can tell；' thought
Falconer； 'what mysterious sympathies of blood and childhood's
experience there may be between me and that man？such； it may be；
that my utterance on the violin will wake in his soul the very
visions of which my soul is full while I play； each with its own
nebulous atmosphere of dream…light around it。' For music wakes its
own feeling； and feeling wakes thought； or rather； when perfected；
blossoms into thought； thought radiant of music as those lilies that
shine phosphorescent in the July nights。 He played more and more
forcefully； growing in hope。 But he had been led astray in some
measure by the fulness of his expectation。 Strange to tell； doctor
as he was； he had forgotten one important factor in his calculation：
how the man would awake from his artificial sleep。 He had not
reckoned of how the limbeck of his brain would be left discoloured
with vile deposit； when the fumes of the narcotic should have
settled and given up its central spaces to the faintness of
desertion。
Robert was very keen of hearing。 Indeed he possessed all his senses
keener than any other man I have known。 He heard him toss on his
bed。 Then he broke into a growl； and damned the miauling； which； he
said； the strings could never have learned anywhere but in a cat's
belly。 But Robert was used to bad language； and there are some bad
things which； seeing that there they are； it is of the greatest
consequence to get used to。 It gave him； no doubt； a pang of
disappointment to hear such an echo to his music from the soul which
he had hoped especially fitted to respond in harmonious unison with
the wail of his violin。 But not for even this moment did he lose
his presence of mind。 He instantly moderated the tone of the
instrument； and gradually drew the sound away once more into the
distance of hearing。 But he did not therefore let it die。 Through
various changes it floated in the thin ？ther of the soul； changes
delicate as when the wind leaves the harp of the reeds by a river's
brink； and falls a…ringing at the heather bells； or playing with the
dry silvery pods of honesty that hang in the poor man's garden； till
at length it drew nearer once more； bearing on its wings the wail of
red Flodden； the Flowers of the Forest。 Listening through the
melody for sounds of a far different kind； Robert was aware that
those sounds had ceased； the growling was still； he heard no more
turnings to and fro。 How it was operating he could not tell；
further than that there must be some measure of soothing in its
influence。 He ceased quite； and listened again。 For a few moments
there was no sound。 Then he heard the half…articulate murmuring of
one whose organs have been all but overcome by the beneficent
paralysis of sleep； but whose feeble will would compel them to
utterance。 He was nearly asleep again。 Was it a fact； or a fancy
of Robert's eager heart？ Did the man really say；
'Play that again； father。 It's bonnie； that！ I aye likit the
Flooers o' the Forest。 Play awa'。 I hae had a frichtsome dream。 I
thocht I was i' the ill place。 I doobt I'm no weel。 But yer fiddle
aye did me gude。 Play awa'； father！'
All the night through； till the dawn of the gray morning； Falconer
watched the sleeping man； all but certain that he was indeed his
father。 Eternities of thought passed through his mind as he
watchedthis time by the couch； as he hoped； of a new birth。 He
was about to see what could be done by one man； strengthened by all
the aids that love and devotion could give； for the redemption of
his fellow。 As through the darkness of the night and a sluggish fog
to aid it； the light of a pure heaven made its slow irresistible
way； his hope grew that athwart the fog of an evil life； the
darkness that might be felt； the light of the Spirit of God would
yet penetrate the heart of the sinner； and shake the wickedness out
of i