member of the party was Mr. Dempster, who had just come over
from Adelaide. He had been seized on by Francis, and begged to accept
of a little corner of their somewhat crowded house. There are a number
of very bright faces collected round the table. How many recollections
of early difficulties faithfully wrestled with and overcome, throng
upon our friends at such an hour of meeting!

Peggy was disposed to improve the occasion. "Well," said she, "to think
of us all being together in this way after all we've come through! I'm
not speaking of you, Mr. Dempster, for I know none of your
harassments--but when I mind of the night when Miss Jean and Miss Elsie
sat in my little room, so downcast, and so despairing, and I told them
about all my troubles just to hearten them up a bit, and to show what
God had enabled me to win through, little did I think of how the
Almighty was leading us all! You mind well of how I spoke of Miss
Thomson that night, and of the money she gave for my help when I was in
sore straits how to provide for my bairns. And to think of my Tam being
married on her niece! It's no for worms like us to be proud, but to be
connected with such as Miss Thomson is a cause of thanksgiving."

"And I have had a letter from Aunt Margaret, and so has Tom," said
Grace, "and she is quite pleased with our engagement. She says she
knows that as Tom has raised himself so far by his own industry and
abilities, helped by the education his good aunt gave to him, that
there is no fear of his ever falling; and she said Tom's letter to her
is the best thing of the kind she ever read."

"Mrs. Hogarth taught him to write letters," said Peggy; "and really
when he reads out anything to me that he has written, it reads like a
printed book. As for Miss Thomson's own letter, it deserves to be
printed in letters of gold; but mind, you young folk, not to be
overmuch set up about being married, and all your friends being so
satisfied. It is a great good Providence that you have happened so
well; but all folk have not your good luck. You must not look down on
your sister Mary--who is the best of the whole bunch of you, I
reckon--because she is six years older than you and not married yet."

"Oh, auntie!" said Grace,--"with such a maiden aunt as I have, and such
a maiden aunt as Tom has, you never could dream of my looking down on
old maids, or fancying I can be compared to Mary."

"Bravo! Mrs. Lowrie," said Brandon; "I wish I could find a