ar morning; and the doubt and anxiety showed all the more
plainly, contrasting as they did with the brightness on the face of his
wife. She was moved, too, but with no painful feeling, her husband
could see, as he watched her, though there were tears in the eyes that
rested on the scene without. But she was seeing other things, he knew,
and not sorrowful things either, he said to himself, with a little
surprise, as he fingered uneasily an open letter that lay on the table
beside him.

"It ain't hard to see how all _that_ will end," said he, in a little.

"But," said his wife, turning toward him with a smile, "you say it as if
it were an ending not to be desired."

"Ah, well!--in a general way, I suppose it _is_, or most folks, would
say so. What do you think?"

"If _they_ are pleased, we needna be otherwise."

"Well!--no--but ain't it a little sudden? It don't seem but the other
day since Mr Ruthven crossed the ocean."

"But that wasna the first time he crossed the ocean. The first time
they crossed it together. Allan Ruthven is an old friend, and Miss
Graeme is no' the one to give her faith lightly to any man."

"Well! no, she ain't. But, somehow, I had come to think that she never
would change her state; and--"

"It's no' very long, then," said his wife, laughing. "You'll mind that
it's no' long since you thought the minister likely to persuade her to
it."

"And does it please you that Mr Ruthven has had better luck?"

"The minister never could have persuaded her. He never tried very much,
I think. And if Allan Ruthven has persuaded her, it is because she
cares for him as she never cared for any other man. And from all that
Will says, we may believe that he is a good man, and true, and I am glad
for her sake, glad and thankful. God bless her."

"Why, yes, if she must marry," said Mr Snow, discontentedly; "but
somehow it don't seem as though she could fit in anywhere better than
just the spot she is in now. I know it don't sound well to talk about
old maids, because of the foolish notions folks have got to have; but
Graeme did seem one that would `adorn the doctrine' as an old maid, and
redeem the name."

"That has been done by many a one already, in your sight and mine; and
Miss Graeme will `adorn the doctrine' anywhere. She has ay had a useful
life, and this while she has had a happy one. But oh, man!" added Mrs
Snow, growing earnest and Scotch, as old memories came over her with a
sudde