the
hearth, and warm water prepared, and then, kneeling down, she bathed the
hands and face and weary feet of her aunt. Mrs Blair felt a strange
sweet pleasure in thus being waited on by the child. Many months had
passed since she had looked on one united to her by the ties of blood;
and now her heart was full as she gazed on the children of her brother.
There was something inexpressibly grateful to her in the look of content
that was coming into the grave, wistful eyes of the little lad, and in
the caressing touch of Lily's hand. In the interest with which she
watched the little girl as she went about intent on household cares, she
well-nigh forgot her own weariness and her many causes of anxiety.
There was something so womanly, yet so childish, in her quiet ways,
something so winning in the grave smile that now and then played about
her mouth, that her aunt was quite beguiled from her sad thoughts. In a
little while Lily went to the door, and listened for her mother's
returning footsteps.

"I wonder what can be keeping her so late?" she said, as she returned.
"This is not a busy time, and she said that she would be early home.
Sometimes she is very late on Saturday night."

Once more she went to the head of the stairs to listen; and then,
returning, she sat herself on a stool at her aunt's feet.

"And so you are very glad to see me, Lily?" said Mrs Blair, smiling
upon the child's upturned face.

The bright smile with which the girl answered faded quickly as her aunt
continued:

"And you are very poor now, are you?"

"Yes, we are poor; and, yet, not so very poor, either. We have had some
work to do, my mother and I; and we have never been a whole day without
food. If Archie were only well again! That's our worst trouble, now.
And mother, too, though she won't own to being ill, often gets very
weary. But now that you are come, all will be well again."

"And maybe you'll take us all home to Glen Elder for a wee while, as you
used to do," said Archie, speaking for the first time since his aunt's
coming.

"Archie so pines for the country," said Lilias; "and we can hardly make
ourselves believe that you live anywhere but at Glen Elder."

"My home now is very unlike Glen Elder," said Mrs Blair, sadly. "But
there is fresh air there, and there are bonny heather hills; so cheer
up, Archie, laddie; it will go hard with me if I canna get you to
Kirklands for a while at least, and you'll be strong and well befo