w, watching both the minister and Graeme, "couldna be
thankful enough" for what she saw. But as the weeks passed on there
mingled with her thankfulness an anxiety which she herself was inclined
to resent. "As though the Lord wasna bringing them through their
troubles in a way that was just wonderful," she said to herself, many a
time. At last, when the days passed into weeks, bringing no colour to
the cheeks, and no elasticity to the step of Graeme, she could not help
letting her uneasiness be seen.

"It's her black dress that makes her look so pale, ain't it?" said Mr
Snow, but his face was grave, too.

"I dare say that makes a difference, and she is tired to-day, too. She
wearied herself taking the flowers and things over yonder," said Mrs
Snow, glancing towards the spot where the white grave-stones gleamed out
from the pale, green foliage of spring-time. "And no wonder. Even
Emily was over tired, and hasna looked like herself since. I dare say
I'm troubling myself when there is no need."

"The children, Will, and Rosie, don't worry her with their lessons, do
they?"

"I dinna ken. Sometimes I think they do. But she would weary far more
without them. We must have patience. It would never do to vex the
minister with fears for her."

"No, it won't do to alarm him," said Mr Snow, with emphasis; and he
looked very grave. In a little he opened his lips as if to say more,
but seemed to change his mind.

"It ain't worth while to worry her with it. I don't more than half
believe it myself. Doctors don't know everything. It seems as though
it couldn't be so--and if it is so, it's best to keep still about it--
for a spell, anyhow."

And Mr Snow vaguely wished that Doctor Chittenden had not overtaken him
that afternoon, or that they had not talked so long and so gravely
beneath the great elms.

"And the doctor ain't given to talking when he had ought to keep still.
Can't nothing be done for him? I'll have a talk with the squire,
anyhow."

That night Mr and Mrs Snow were startled by a message from Graeme.
Her father had been once or twice before sharply and suddenly seized
with illness. The doctor looked very grave this time, but seeing
Graeme's pale, anxious face, he could not find it in his heart to tell
her that this was something more than the indigestion which it had been
called--severe but not dangerous. The worst was over for this time, and
Graeme would be better able to bear a shock by and by.