g power, and by and by Graeme
raised herself up, and, wiping away her tears, said, with a faint
smile,--

"And so Sandy saw poor Harry's secret? I did not, at first. I suppose
little Emily had sharpened his eyes to see such things, even then."

"Yes, Sandy saw it, and it was a great surprise to us all when there
came word of her marriage. Sandy never thought of Allan Ruthven and his
cousin coming together."

Graeme rose and took her work again. It was growing dark, and she
carried it to the window and bent over it.

"Was it for her money--or why was it?"

"Oh! no. I never could think so. She was a very sweet and lovely
creature; we loved her dearly, Rose and I. They had been engaged a long
time, I believe, though the marriage was sudden at last. That was
because of her father's illness. He died soon after, you remember."

"Yes, I remember. Well, I didna think that Allan Ruthven was one to let
the world get a firm grip of him. But folk change. I didna ken."

"Oh! no, it was not that," said Graeme, eagerly. "Indeed, at that time
Mr Elphinstone's affairs were rather involved. He had met with great
losses, Harry says, and Arthur thought that nothing but Mr Ruthven's
high character and great business talents could have saved the firm from
ruin. Oh! no; it was not for money."

"Well, my dear, I am glad to hear you say it. I am glad that Allan
Ruthven hasna changed. I think you said he hasna changed?"

"At first I thought him changed, but afterwards I thought him just the
same."

"Maybe it was her that wanted the money? If her father was in
trouble--"

"No, oh! no! You could never have such a thought if you had ever seen
her face. I don't know how it happened. As all marriages happen, I
suppose. It was very natural; but we won't speak about it."

"They seem to have forgotten their friends. I think you said you seldom
see them now."

"We don't see them often. They have been out of town a good deal, and
we have fallen a little out of acquaintance. But we have done that with
many others; we have made so many new acquaintances since Arthur's
marriage--friends of Fanny's, you know; and, somehow, nothing seems
quite the same as it used to do. If Mr Ruthven knew you were in town,
I am sure he would have been to see you before now."

"I am no' wearying to see him," said Mrs Snow, coldly. "But, my dear,
is your work of more value than your eyes, that you are keeping at it in
the dark?"

Gr