r weariness, or discontent, whichever it may be. Oh me! And I
thought the worst was past, and Janet says it will never be quite past,
till I am grown old."

And Janet sat with reverent, half-averted eyes, seeing the sorrow, that
in trying to hide, the child of her love had so plainly revealed. She
knew that words are powerless to help the soreness of such wounds, and
yet she chid herself that she had so failed to comfort her. She knew
that Graeme had come to her in the vague hope for help and counsel, and
that she was saying now to herself that her friend had failed her.

"For, what could I say? I couldna bid her go. What good would that do,
when she carries her care with her? And it is not for the like of her
to vex her heart out with bairns, keeping at a school. I ken her better
than she kens herself. Oh! but it is sad to think that the best comfort
I can give her, is to look the other way, and not seem to see. Well,
there is One she winna seek to hide her trouble from, and He can comfort
her."

CHAPTER THIRTY SIX.

The only event of importance that occurred before Mrs Snow went away,
was the return of Nelly. She came in upon them one morning, as they sat
together in the breakfast-room, with more shamefacedness than could be
easily accounted for at the first moment. And then she told them she
was married. Her sudden departure had been the means of bringing Mr
Stirling to a knowledge of his own mind on the matter of wedlock, and he
had followed her to her sister's, and "married her out of hand." Of
course, she was properly congratulated by them all, but Rose was
inclined to be indignant.

"You promised that I was to be bridesmaid, and I think it is quite too
bad that you should disappoint me," said she.

"Yes, I know I promised, but it was with a long prospect of waiting. I
thought your own turn might come first, Miss Rose, He didna seem in a
hurry about it. But his leisure was over when I was fairly away out of
reach. So he came after me to my sister's, and nothing would do, but
back I must go with him. He couldna see what difference a month or two
could make in a thing that was to be for a lifetime; and my sister and
the rest up there--they sided with him. And there was reason in it, I
couldna deny; so we just went down to the manse one morning, and had it
over, and me with this very gown on, not my best by two or three. He
made small count of any preparations; so you see, Miss Rose, I c