all that you have
seen of the Lord's goodness, to you and yours. What would you wish
changed of all that has come and gone, since that first time when we
looked on the bonny hills and valleys of Merleville?"

"Janet," said Graeme, speaking low, "death has come to us since that
day."

"Ay, my bairns! the death of the righteous, and, surely, that is to be
grieved for least of all. Think of them all these years, among the
hills of Heaven, with your mother and the baby she got home with her.
And think of the wonderful things your father has seen, and of his
having speech with David, and Paul, and with our Lord himself--"

Janet's voice faltered, and Graeme clasped softly the withered hand that
lay upon her arm, and neither of them spoke again, till they answered
Sandy and Emily's joyful greeting at the door.

Rose lingered behind, and walked up and down over the fallen leaves
beneath the elms. Graeme came down again, there, and Mr Nasmyth came
to speak to them, and so did Emily, but they did not stay long; and by
and by Rose was left alone with Mr Millar, for the very first time
during his visit. Not that she was really alone with him, for all the
rest were still in the porch enjoying the mild air, and the bright
October sunshine. She could join them in a moment, she thought, not
that there was the least reason in the world for her wishing to do so,
however. All this passed through her mind, as she came over the fallen
leaves toward the gate on which Mr Millar was leaning; and then she saw
that she could not so easily join the rest, at least, without asking him
to let her pass. But, of course, there could be no occasion for that.

"How clearly we can see the shadows in the water," said she, for the
sake of saying something. "Look over yonder, at the point where the
cedar trees grow low. Do you see?"

"Yes, I see," said he, but he was not looking the way of the cedars.
"Rose, do you know why I came here?"

Rose gave a startled glance towards the porch where they were all
sitting so quietly.

"It was to bring us news of Will, wasn't it? And to see Merleville?"
said she.

Did she say it? Or had she only thought of it? She was not sure, a
minute after, for Mr Millar went on as if he had heard nothing.

"I came to ask you to be my wife."

Did this take her by surprise? or had she been expecting it all the
time? She did not know. She was not sure; but she stood before him
with downcast eyes, without a