that. After Aunt Janet came, it was different.
After that she seemed willing to go at any time."

There was a pause, and then Archie said:

"It is a pity that she didn't know, before she went away, how we should
come here, and what a bonny place it is. Lily, do you think she sees us
now?"

"I don't know. She may. Anyway, after that night she was willing to
leave us. Indeed, she told me the night she died that she didn't fear
for us."

The remembrance of that night always made Lilias' cheek grow pale; and
she did not speak again for some time. At last she said:

"Yes, this is a bonny place, and we have been very happy here; but there
is one thing I am grieved for. You know, Archie, Aunt Janet is poor,
and I fear in this place I shall not be able to find anything to do to
help her. I fear I can't bide here long."

The thought of having to part from his sister had never come into
Archie's mind, and he looked at her in astonishment, as he said:

"But where would you go?"

"Oh, I don't know yet. Only I think it's not right to burden Aunt Janet
more than can be helped. I heard Mrs Stirling say that Mrs Graham, at
the manse, wanted some one to sew and help among the children; and maybe
I would do for her."

"Oh, Lily, surely you wouldn't go away. What should I ever do without
you?" said Archie, weeping.

"Whisht, Archie," said his sister, soothingly; "do you think I would
like to go away from you? But if it is right, we mustn't think whether
it is pleasant or not. We won't grieve before the time, however. Maybe
I'll never have to go. We'll speak to Aunt Janet."

And so that night, after Archie was asleep, Lilias spoke to her aunt.

"Are you weary of me, Lilias, that you wish to leave me so soon?" asked
her aunt, gravely.

"Oh, aunt, you cannot think that. If it were only not wrong for me to
bide here always!"

"And why do you not think it right to bide here always?" asked her aunt.

"Because I am young and strong, and I ought to be working for you,
rather than that you should be doing so much for me."

"But you have been working for me. You have helped me greatly since you
came here."

"Yes, a little, perhaps," said Lilias, thoughtfully. "But that's not
what I mean. Are you not very poor now, Aunt Janet?"

"Well, I cannot say that I am very rich," said her aunt, smiling. "But
I'm not so poor but that I can shelter my brother's orphan bairns for a
while at least." And then she added,