d
Hughie himself got out his Ford car to take Gavin to Algonquin to catch
the midnight train for Toronto.

The weather seemed to be in accord with the hearts of the three
bereaved old women, a cold rain came sweeping across the hills just as
night fell and Gavin drove away from his old home and the loving arms
that would have held him, into the storm and darkness, and the light of
Craig-Ellachie went out with him.

Christina had not heard of Gavin's sudden call, and while he was
driving away in the wind and rain, she was sitting by the fire winding
a skein of yarn which Wallace Sutherland was holding.

The sitting room was warm and bright, and had many pretty feminine
touches, and there were plenty of easy chairs and cushions that Mary
had contributed from time to time. The soft-shaded lamp-light fell on
Christina's bright hair as she bent over her yarn. Her mother had gone
to bed early, they were alone and Wallace was watching Christina from
his luxurious seat on the big deep sofa, in perfect content. The wind
howled around the corners of the old house, and the rain lashed the
window panes, but the comfort of the bright sitting-room and
Christina's presence were only made more delightful by the contrast.

Wallace sank down deeper into the sofa. He was in his happiest mood.
He had worked quite steadily all Summer and had been so successful in
the process of "Showing Uncle William" that that unreasonable old
person had written quite a reasonable letter to his brother, saying
that, maybe there was something in the young cub after all, and that if
he really succeeded in demonstrating that he was good for something,
even if it was only feeding the pigs, he, Uncle William, might be
inclined to pay him a visit, etc., etc. It was that etc. that so
raised Wallace's spirits. He knew Uncle William, oh, right down to the
ground, he declared, and had no hesitation in assuring Christina that
if everything went all right with his stock this Winter, Uncle William
was his to do as he pleased with. He was very happy, and expected
Christina to rejoice with him. She was naturally gay and ready to
follow a merry lead, and Wallace enjoyed her companionship more than
any one he had known for that very reason. But he could not deny that
for some time she had not been such a good comrade. She had to make an
effort to-night to help him be gay over Uncle William's complete
undoing. She tried to be interested as he told all his goo