ear--certainly a sigh.

"You are thinking of your son and his marriage," said Angus.

"That is not strange. It is a life-crisis with all men--and it has come
so suddenly--I scarcely know my Harold of two months since in my Harold
now."

"To work such results, it must be an ardent love."

"Say, rather, a vehement passion--love does not spring up and flower,
like my hyacinths there, in six weeks. But I do not complain. Reason, if
not feeling, tells me that a mother cannot be all in all to a young man.
Harold needs a wife--let him take one! They will be married soon; and
if all Sara's qualities equal her beauty, this wild passion will soon
mature into affection. He may be happy--I trust so!"

"But does the girl love him?"--"Of course," spoke the quick-rising
maternal pride. But she almost smiled at it herself, and added--"Really,
you must excuse these speeches of mine. I talk to you as I never do to
any one else; but it is all for the sake of olden times. This has been a
happy week to me. You must pay us another visit soon."

"I will And you must take a journey to my home, and learn to know my
wife and Olive," said Rothesay. The influence of Alison Gwynne was
unconsciously strengthening him; and though, from some inexplicable
feeling, he had spoken but little of his wife and child, there were
growing up in his mind many schemes, the chief of which were connected
with Olive. But he now thought less of her appearing in the world as
Captain Rothesay's heiress, than of her being placed within the shadow
of Alison Gwynne, and so reflecting back upon her father's age that
benign influence which had been the blessing of his youth.

He went on to tell Mrs. Gwynne more of his affairs and of his plans than
he had communicated to any one for many a long year. In the midst of
their conversation came the visitation--always so important in remote
country districts--the every-other-day's post.

"For you--not me. I have few correspondents. So I will go to my duties,
while you attend to yours," said Mrs. Gwynne, and departed.

When she came in again, Captain Rothesay was pacing the room uneasily.

"No ill news, I hope?"

"No, my kind friend--not exactly ill news, though vexatious enough. But
why should I trouble you with them!"

"Nothing ever troubles me that can be of use to my friends. I ask no
unwelcome confidence. If it is any relief to you to speak I will gladly
hear. It is sometimes good for a man to have a woman to talk