ould be so, and--"

"Janet!" Graeme's voice expressed consternation as well as indignation,
Mrs Nasmyth took no notice, but seated herself to her stocking-darning.

"Janet! If you think of such a thing for a moment, I declare I'll take
second thoughts and go away myself."

"Weel, I aye thought you might have done as weel to consider a wee afore
you gave Mr Foster his answer," said Janet, not heeding Graeme's
impatient answer.

"Janet! A sticket minister!"

"My dear, he's no' a sticket minister. He passed his examinations with
great credit to himself. You hae your father's word for that, who was
there to hear him. And he's a grand scholar--that's weel kent; and
though he mayna hae the gift o' tongues like some folk, he may do a
great deal of good in the world notwithstanding. And they say he has
gotten the charge of a fine school now, and is weel off. I aye thought
you might do worse than go with him. He's a good lad, and you would
have had a comfortable home with him."

"Thank you. But when I marry it won't be to get a comfortable home.
I'm content with the home I have."

"Ay, if you could be sure of keeping it," said Janet, with a sigh; "but
a good man and a good home does not come as an offer ilka day."

"The deacon needna be feared to leave his case in your hands, it seems,"
said Graeme, laughing, but not pleasantly.

"Miss Graeme, my dear," said Mrs Nasmyth, gravely, "there's many a
thing to be said of that matter; but it must be said in a different
spirit from what you are manifesting just now. If I'm worth the keeping
here, I'm worth the seeking elsewhere, and Deacon Snow has as good a
right as another."

"Right, indeed! Nobody has any right to you but ourselves. You are
ours, and we'll never, never let you go."

"It's no' far down the brae," said Janet, gently.

"Janet! You'll never think of going! Surely, surely, you'll never
leave us now. And for a stranger, too! When you gave up your own
mother and Sandy, and the land you loved so well, to come here with
us--!" Graeme could not go on for the tears that would not be kept
back.

"Miss Graeme, my dear bairn, you were needing me then. Nae, hae
patience, and let me speak. You are not needing me now in the same way.
I sometimes think it would be far better for you if I wasna here."

Graeme dissented earnestly by look and gesture, but she had no words.

"It's true though, my dear. You can hardly say that you are at the head
of