home again, and that for a better reason than she
gave the minister. To Mr Snow, who doubted whether "them boys" would
care to come so far at such expense, she gave it with a sadder face than
he had ever seen her wear.

"If they are not all together soon, they may never be together on earth
again; and it is far better that they should come home, and have a few
blithe days to mind on afterward, than that their first home-coming
should be to a home with the shadow of death upon it. They must be
asked, any way."

And so they were written to, and in due time there came a letter, saying
that both Harry and Arthur would be home for a week at the time
appointed. From Norman there came no letter, but one night, while they
were wondering why, Norman came himself. His first greeting to Janet
was in words of grave expostulation, that she should think of forsaking
her "bairns" after all these years; but when he saw how grave her face
became, he took it all back, and declared that he had been expecting it
all along, and only wondered that matters had not been brought to a
crisis much sooner. He rejoiced Mr Snow's heart, first by his hearty
congratulations, and then by his awful threats of vengeance if Mrs Snow
was not henceforth the happiest woman in Merleville.

Norman was greatly changed by his two years' absence, more than either
of his brothers, the sisters thought. Arthur was just the same as ever,
though he was an advocate and a man of business; and Harry was a boy
with a smooth chin and red cheeks, still. But, with Norman's brown,
bearded face the girls had to make new acquaintance.

But, though changed in appearance, it was in appearance only. Norman
was the same mirth-loving lad as ever. He was frank and truthful, too,
if he was still thoughtless; and Graeme told herself many a time, with
pride and thankfulness, that as yet, the world had not changed for the
worse, the brother for whom she had dreaded its temptations most of all.

Norman's letters had always been longest and most frequent; and yet, it
was he who had the most to tell. If his active and exposed life as an
engineer at the West had anything unpleasant in it, this was kept out of
sight at home, and his adventures never wearied the children. His "once
upon a time" was the signal for silence and attention among the little
ones; and even the older ones listened with interest to Norman's
rambling stories. Nor did their interest cease when the sparkl