r might be misunderstood.

"Yess, yess," said the old lady hastily, "it iss very good of you and
of the young ladies," turning to look at Helen with kindly eyes. "You
will not be thinking me ungrateful," she added with a suspicion of
tears in her voice. "I have been spoiled by Hamish yonder," turning her
face toward her son.

"Whist now, mother," said Hamish to her in a low tone, in which
depreciation and warning were mingled. He knew how hard the next hour
would be for himself and for his mother, and he knew, too, that they
could not indulge themselves in the luxury of uttered grief and love.
At this moment, to the relief of all, Brown entered with an exaggerated
air of carelessness.

"Here's a man for your 'settler's effect,'" he cried cheerily. "Lucky
dog, aint he," he cried, turning to Helen, "and don't I wish I was in
his place. Think of the times he will have riding over the claims with
those jolly cowboys, not to speak of the claims he will be staking, and
the gold he will be washing out of those parish streams of his. Don't I
wish I were going! I am, too, when I can persuade those old
iron-livered professors to let me through. However, next year I'm to
pass. Mrs. Macgregor is to see to that."

"Indeed, I hope so," cried Betty, "an hour's study at least, before
breakfast and no gallivanting at night. I will help you, Mrs.
Macgregor. We will get him through this time."

"Ay, I doubt I will not be much the better of your help," replied Mrs.
Macgregor, with a shrewd kindly smile.

"There now, take that," said Brown to Betty, adding ruefully to Shock,
"You see what I'm in for."

"You'll survive," said Shock.

Then he rose and lifted his coat from the peg behind the door. At the
same instant Helen rose hurriedly and with paling face said to her
mother: "Let us go now."

"Well, Mrs. Macgregor, if we cannot serve you we will be going," said
Mrs. Fairbanks; "but we would be glad to drive Mr. Macgregor to the
station."

She was anxious to justify her visit to herself and her friends.

"That's a first-rate idea," cried Brown, "that is, if you can give me a
lift, too."

"Of course," cried Betty.

"Thank you, I shall be very glad," said Shock, seeing it would please
Mrs. Fairbanks.

"Come along, then," said Betty. "I suppose we have not too much time."

"Good-bye, for the present," said Mrs. Fairbanks, offering her hand to
the old lady, who was standing erect, white but calm, facing the hour
whose bitter