o our efforts!"

But John Egerton did not share his enthusiasm. He was watching
morosely three figures that were just disappearing into the church
ahead of him. They were Jessie and her father and mother. She had
formed the habit lately of going out only with her parents, and when
they remained at home she stayed with them, much to their wonder and
delight. When he entered the church he found her safely ensconced
between the two, and knew there was no opportunity for him to gain a
word with her.

"Here comes the choir!" announced a voice from the back, as the broad
shoulders of Wee Andra heralded their approach. That august body
walked leisurely to their seats of honour in a bower of evergreens
behind the organ, secure in the knowledge that the meeting could not
possibly commence without them. They were soon settled in their
places, and Syl Todd found to his unspeakable delight that he was
seated next to Maggie Hamilton. His father and mother, seated in the
front row, nudged each other in ecstasy at the sight of their son
sitting up there on the platform with the minister and the schoolmaster
and looking far handsomer and better dressed than either of them.

But poor Syl did not derive as much enjoyment from his proud position
as did his parents. Maggie was extremely difficult. "Ain't the
decorations lovely," he remarked, by way of a propitiatory opening of
conversation. "If it hadn't a' been for you, Maggie, them flags
wouldn't a' been hung near so graceful."

His divinity jerked herself round impatiently. "Oh, my goodness, I
wish something else had been hung besides flags," she said with
heartless meaning.

Syl laughed nervously. "Oh Maggie, you are such a tease! I never seen
such a monkey of a girl as you. Look here what I got you." He handed
her a little white candy tablet on which was printed a sentimental
inscription. "I bought three pounds of them congregational lozengers
at Basketful's to-day jist for you."

Maggie glared at the unoffending piece of confectionery, but did not
deign to touch it. "My, but you must have thought I could eat like a
horse!" she remarked scathingly. "You can give them to Julia Duffy,"
and she flounced out of the seat to another at some distance, leaving
Syl to endure an evening of tormenting doubt as to whether he might see
her home.

Mr. Watson came bustling over nervously to confer with the choir
leader. "The crowd's nearly all here, do you think we'd bett