, and the burn running full to the fields beyond, and the faraway
hills; and, as she looked, she sighed, and quite forgot the water-bucket
in her hand, and that she was on her way to the burn for water to make
her afternoon cup of tea. We speak of spring as a joyful season; we
say, "the glad spring," and "the merry, merry May;" and it is a glad
season to the birds and the bees, the lambs and the little children, and
to grown people, too, who have nothing very sad to remember. But the
coming back of so many fair things as the spring brings reminds many a
one of fair things which can never come again; and hearts more contented
than Mrs Stirling's was, sometimes sigh in the light of such a day.

"It's a bonny day," said she to herself, "a seasonable day for the
country; and we should be thankful." But she sighed again as she said
it; and, for no reason that she could give, her thoughts wandered away
to a row of graves in the kirk-yard, and farther away still, to a home
and a time in which she saw herself a little child, so blithe, so full
of happy life, that, as it all came back, she could not but wonder how
she ever should have changed to the troubled, dissatisfied woman that
she knew herself to be.

"Oh, well! It couldna but be so, in a world like this. Such changes ay
have been, and ay must be," said she, trying to comfort herself with the
"old philosophy." But she did not quite succeed. For the passing years
had changed her, and it came into her mind, as it had often come of
late, that she might perhaps have made a better use of all that life had
brought her. But it was not a pleasant thought to pursue; and she gave
a little start of relief and pleasure as she caught sight of two figures
coming slowly up the brae.

"It's Lilias Elder and Archie. She'll have nothing left to wish for now
that she has him home again. Eh! but she's a bonnie lassie, and a good!
And Archie, too, is a well-grown lad, and not so set up as he might be,
considering."

It was Lilias and her brother. Archie was at home, after his first
session at the college; and Nancy was right; Lilias had little left to
wish for.

"Well, bairns," she said, after the first greetings were over, "will you
come in, or will you sit down here at the door? It's such a bonny day.
So you're home again, Archie, lad, and glad to be, I hope?"

"Very glad," said Archie. "I never was so glad before."

"You said that last time," said Lilias, laughing.

"W