d fortune,
but was just a little relieved when John came in for a few minutes and
began talking politics.

She went to the kitchen for a plate of apples, leaving them discussing
the Minister of Militia, and was taking down a plate from the high old
cupboard in the kitchen, when she heard a sound as if some one were
fumbling at the door. The big kitchen was empty, the damp day had been
bad for Uncle Neil's rheumatism, and he had gone to bed early, it was
almost too late for a visitor, and thinking it might be only the wind,
Christina put down her plate and went to look if the outside porch door
were slamming.

She threw open the door and the rain and wind whirled in her face, and
out of the wet and the darkness emerged a tall figure in a long khaki
overcoat and a Highland bonnet. The bonnet came off immediately, and
the soldier said in a soft Highland accent, "Good evening, Christine."

"Oh, Gavin," she cried in surprise, and a sudden unreasonable joy. "Is
it really you? Come away in. Are you wet?"

But Gavin still stood in the doorway. "No, I cannot come in," he said
hurriedly; "Hughie is waiting for me at the gate. He is taking me into
Algonquin."

Christina looked past him into the darkness. "To Algonquin! Oh,
Gavin, you're not called away are you?"

"Yes, the Battalion is ordered to Halifax, we will likely be sailing at
once. I did not know till this morning; and I--" his voice dropped to
a whisper, "I just couldn't go away without saying good-bye to you,
Christine."

A gust of wind swayed Christina's skirts, and Gavin stepped inside and
closed the door, but stood holding the latch.

"And your poor Aunties!" cried Christina. She was angry with herself
the moment she said it, for a look of anguish passed quickly over
Gavin's face.

"They are very brave," he said simply. He paused, there was silence in
the big warm kitchen.

"Won't you come in, just a minute, and say good-bye to John?" asked
Christina. "Mother and Uncle Neil are gone to bed, but--"

"No, I have no time to-night, but I could not go without seeing you,
just once, and saying good-bye," he whispered.

Christina's eyes suddenly stung with tears. "Oh, Gavin," she faltered,
"I--I don't deserve it."

He shook his head to indicate that she was wrong, and again silence
fell. Gavin glanced at his wrist watch. She noticed that his
awkwardness had disappeared under his military training, he held
himself with a new dignified bearing