procured, and they must mortgage
their little cottage to do it; and although ten days had passed,
Margaret Fae had not shown, either by word or deed, what was her
opinion regarding John's guilt or innocence.

But Margaret, as before said, was naturally slow in all her movements,
so slow that even Scotch caution had begun to call her cruel or
careless. But this was a great injustice. She had weighed carefully in
her own mind everything against John, and put beside it his own letter
to her and her intimate knowledge of his character, and then solemnly
sat down in God's presence to take such counsel as he should put into
her heart. After many prayerful, waiting days she reached a conclusion
which was satisfactory to herself; and she then put away from her
every doubt of John's innocence, and resolved on the course to be
pursued.

In the first place she would need money to clear the guiltless and to
seek the guilty, and she resolved to continue her father's business.
She had assisted him so long with his accounts that his methods were
quite familiar to her; all she needed was some one to handle the rough
goods, and stand between her and the rude sailors with whom the
business was mainly conducted.

Who was this to be? Ragon Torr? She was sure Ragon would have been her
father's choice. He had taken all charge of the funeral, and had since
hung round the house, ready at any moment to do her service. But Ragon
would testify against John Sabay, and she had besides an unaccountable
antipathy to his having any nearer relation with her. "I'll ask
Geordie Sweyn," she said, after a long consultation with her own slow
but sure reasoning powers; "he'll keep the skippers an' farmers i' awe
o' him; an' he's just as honest as any ither man."

So Geordie was sent for and the proposal made and accepted. "Thou wilt
surely be true to me, Geordie?"

"As sure as death, Miss Margaret;" and when he gave her his great
brawny hand on it, she knew her affairs in that direction were safe.

Next morning the shop was opened as usual, and Geordie Sweyn stood in
Peter Fae's place. The arrangement had been finally made so rapidly
that it had taken all Stromness by surprise. But no one said anything
against it; many believed it to be wisely done, and those who did not,
hardly cared to express dissatisfaction with a man whose personal
prowess and ready hand were so well known.

The same day Christine received a very sisterly letter from Margaret,