among our hills would have been as good for you, I daresay.
I wonder you didn't come then."

"Oh! I could not bear the thought of going then. I was ill, and good
for nothing. It would have been no pleasure for any one to see me then.
I think I should hardly have cared to go away anywhere, if Arthur had
not insisted, and the doctor too."

Unconsciously Graeme yielded to the impulse to say to her friend just
what was in her heart.

"But what ailed you?" asked Mrs Snow, looking up with astonished eyes,
that reminded Graeme there were some things that could not be told even
to her friend.

"What ailed you?" repeated Mrs Snow.

"I can't tell you. An attack of the nerves, Nelly called it, and she
was partly right. I was tired. It was just after Will's long illness,
and Harry's going away, and other things."

"I daresay you were weary and sorrowful, too, and no wonder," said Mrs
Snow, tenderly.

"Yes, about Harry. I was very anxious. There were some doubts about
his going, for a while. Mr Ruthven hesitated, and Harry chafed and
vexed himself and me, too, poor laddie; but we got through that time at
last," added Graeme, with a great sigh.

"Did Mr Ruthven ken of Harry's temptation? Was it for that he
hesitated?" asked Mrs Snow.

"I cannot say. Oh! yes, he knew, or he suspected. But I don't think he
hesitated altogether because of that. As soon as he knew that we were
quite willing--Arthur and I--he decided at once. Mr Ruthven was very
kind and considerate through it all."

"Miss Graeme, my dear," said Mrs Snow, with some hesitation, "did you
ever think there was anything between your brother Harry and his
master's daughter--the young lady that Allan Ruthven married--or was it
only Sandy's fancy?"

Graeme's face grew white as she turned her startled eyes on her friend.

"Sandy! Did he see it? I did not think about it at the time; but
afterward I knew it, and, oh! Janet, you cannot think how it added to
my wretchedness about Harry."

"My bairn! There have been some rough bits on the road you have been
travelling. No wonder your feet get weary, whiles."

Graeme rose, and, without speaking, came and laid her head upon her
friend's lap. In a little she said,--

"How I longed for this place! I had no one to speak to. I used to
think you might have helped and comforted me a little."

She did not try to hide her tears; but they did not flow long. Janet's
kind hand had not lost its old soothin