saying it about the
minister."

"Well, I thought, myself, it was Graeme for a spell, and I'd a little
rather it would be. She's older, and she's just right in every way. It
would be a blessing to more than the minister. It seems as though it
was just the right thing. Now, don't it?"

"I canna say. It is none the more likely to come to pass because of
that, as you might ken yourself by this time," said his wife, gravely.

"Oh, well, I don't know about that. There's Aleck and Emily."

"Hoot, fie, man! They cared for one another, and neither Miss Graeme,
nor her sister, care a penny piece for yon man--for the minister, I
mean."

"You don't think him good enough," said Mr Snow, discontentedly.

"Nonsense! I think him good enough for anybody that will take him. He
is a very good man--what there is o' him," added she, under her breath.
"But it will be time enough to speak about it, when there is a chance of
its happening. I'm no weel pleased with Rosie. If it werena that, as a
rule, I dinna like to meddle with such matters, I would have a word with
her myself. The bairn doesna ken her ain mind, I'm thinking."

The next day was rainy, but not so rainy as to prevent Mr Snow from
fulfilling his promise to take Mr Millar to see some wonderful cattle,
which bade fair to make Mr Nasmyth's a celebrated name in the county,
and before they came home again, Mrs Snow took the opportunity to say a
word, not to Rose, but to Graeme, with regard to her.

"What ails Rosie at your brother's partner, young Mr Millar?" asked
she. "I thought they would have been friends, having known one another
so long."

"Friends!" repeated Graeme. "Are they not friends? What makes you
speak in that way, Janet?"

"Friends they are not," repeated Mrs Snow, emphatically. "But whether
they are less than friends, or more, I canna weel make out. Maybe you
can help me, dear."

"I cannot, indeed," said Graeme, laughing a little uneasily. "I am
afraid Charlie's visit is not to give any of us unmingled pleasure."

"It is easy seen what she is to him, poor lad, and I canna but think--my
dear, you should speak to your sister."

"But, Janet, Rosie is not an easy person to speak to about some things.
And, besides, it is not easy to know whether one may not do harm, rather
than good, by speaking. I _did_ speak to her last night about--about
Mr Perry."

"About the minister! And what did she answer? She cares little about
him, I'm think