rt was carried captive, from the very first, with Sandy's
heartsome, kindly ways. It made me laugh to myself, many a time, to see
them together, and it made me greet whiles, as well. All my fears were
rebuked, and it is the burden of my prayers from day to day, that I may
have a thankful heart."

"And how did Sandy like Merleville, and all the people?"

"Oh, he liked them well, you may be sure. It would have been very
ungrateful if he had not, they made so much of him--Mr and Mrs
Greenleaf, especially, and the Merles, and plenty besides. He made
himself very useful to Mr Greenleaf, in many ways, for he is a clever
lad, my Sandy. It's on his business that he's West now. But he'll soon
be home again."

"And Emily! Tell us just what they said to each other at first, and
what they thought of each other."

"I canna do that, for I wasna there to hear. Emily saw my Sandy before
I saw him myself, as you'll mind I told you before."

"And was it love at first sight?" asked Fanny.

"And did the course of true love for once run smooth," said Rose. Mrs
Snow smiled at their eagerness.

"As for the love at first sight--it came very soon to my Sandy. I am
no' sure about Emily. As for its running smooth, there was a wee while
it was hindered. They had their doubts and fears, as was natural, and
their misunderstandings. But, oh! bairns, it was just wonderful to sit
by and look at them. I saw their happy troubles coming on before they
saw it themselves, I think. It was like a story out of a book, to watch
them; or like one of the songs folk used to sing when I was young--the
sweet old Scottish songs, that are passing out of mind now, I fear. I
never saw the two together in our garden, but I thought of the song that
begins,--"

"Ae simmer nicht when blobs o' dew,
Garred ilka thing look bonny--"

"Ah! Well, God has been good to them, and to us all."

"And Mr Snow was well pleased, of course," said Fanny.

"Pleased is hardly the word for it. He had just set his heart on it
from the very first, and I had, whiles, much ado to keep him from
seeming to see things and to keep him from putting his hand to help them
a wee, which never does, you ken. Folk must find out such things for
themselves, and the canniest hand may hinder, rather than help, with the
very best will. Oh ay, he was well pleased."

"And it is so nice that they are to be so close beside you. I daresay
we shall hardly know our old home, it wi