passed so lightly over him as
over the others. The hair which had been grey on his temples before he
reached his prime, was silvery white now, and he looked bowed and weary
as he sat there gazing into the fire. It came into Graeme's mind as she
sat there in the quiet room, that there might be other and sadder
changes before them, than even the change that Janet's words had
implied.

"My dear," said the minister, at last, "has Mrs Nasmyth been speaking
to you?"

"About--" Menie, she would have asked, but her tongue refused to utter
the word.

"About Mr Snow," said her father, with a smile, and some hesitation.
Graeme started. She had quite forgotten.

"Mrs Greenleaf told me something--and--"

"I believe it is a case of true love with him, if such a thing can come
to a man after he is fifty--as indeed why should it not?" said the
minister. "He seems bent on taking Janet from us, Graeme."

"Papa! it is too absurd," said Graeme, all her old vexation coming back.
Mr Elliott smiled.

"I must confess it was in that light I saw it first, and I had well nigh
been so unreasonable as to be vexed with our good friend. But we must
take care, lest we allow our own wishes to interfere with what may be
for Mrs Nasmyth's advantage."

"But, papa, she has been content with us all these years. Why should
there be a change now?"

"If the change is to be for her good, we must try to persuade her to it,
however. But, judging from what she said to me this afternoon, I fear
it will be a difficult matter."

"But, papa, why should we seek to persuade her against her own
judgment."

"My dear, we don't need to persuade her against her judgment, but
against her affection for us. She only fears that we will miss her
sadly, and she is not quite sure whether she ought to go and leave us."

"But she has been quite happy with us."

"Yes, love--happy in doing what she believed to be her duty--as happy as
she could be so far separated from those whom she must love better than
she loves us even. I have been thinking of her to-night, Graeme. What
a self-denying life Janet's has been! She must be considered first in
this matter."

"Yes, if it would make her happier--but it seems strange that--"

"Graeme, Mr Snow is to send for her mother and her son. I could see
how her heart leapt up at the thought of seeing them, and having them
with her again. It will be a great happiness for her to provide a home
for her mother in her old