th. Indeed, there were two, as Lilias sometimes
thought, while she stood watching for her brother's home-coming beneath
the rowan-tree in the glen. The way over the hills was hardly safe in
the darkness, and the days were growing short again, and Archie could
seldom get home by daylight now. She began to fear that it would be as
their aunt had more than once hinted,--that he must stay at home till
spring.

For herself, Lilias would have liked nothing half so well as a renewal
of last winter's pleasures; but she was by no means sure that Archie
would agree with her.

"He has got a taste of the school, and nothing else will content him
now. And, besides, so clever as the master says he is, it would be such
a pity to take him away just as he has well begun."

But how to help it was the question; and Lilias revolved it in her mind
so constantly that it quite depressed and wearied her at last, and a
feeling akin to despondency began to oppress her. She did not speak to
Archie of any change. He went and came, day by day, rejoicing in the
new sources of delight that his books and his school afforded, evidently
believing that his plans were settled for the winter; and Lilias would
not disturb him a day sooner than was necessary, and so she bore her
burden alone. In a little while she found that she never need have
borne it at all. The disappointment that she dreaded for Archie never
came; and this was the way it was averted.

It was Saturday afternoon,--a half-holiday in the school. The children
had gone home, and there was quietness in the cottage. Lilias had given
the last stroke of neatness to the little room. The dinner-table was
set, and they were waiting for Archie. Lilias went to the gate and
strained her eyes in the direction of the hill-path; and, with a slight
sigh of disappointment, she hurried towards the house again. A strange
voice close by her side startled her.

"You needn't spoil your eyes looking for Archie to-day, for I have given
him leave to go with Davie to the manse, and I dare say Mrs Graham
winna let him want his dinner; and I'll take mine with you. You can get
Archie any time, but it's not often that I am seen in any house but my
own. You needn't look so disappointed."

Lilias' smile quickly chased the shadow from her face as she cheerfully
invited the schoolmaster to come in; and, stooping low, he entered.

Mrs Blair had known Peter Butler all his life, and she had often
receive