not
heard his name spoken--unless by the old squire, who forgets things
whiles. None of us name him in his hearing, nor the neighbours. And
all this about the land and the site for the mills is not natural, is
it, if he has forgiven and forgotten? And it is not Christian, if he
has not," added Katie with a sob.

"And what you mean by all this is, that--that something is the matter
with him--as Mr Jacob said," and Davie turned angry eyes on his sister.

"Davie, I whiles think grannie is feared. She is ay longing for his
home-coming when he is away. And I hear her speaking softly to him when
they are alone. And I hear him often praying in the night; last night
it was for hours, I think. Oh, Davie! and then grannie went to him, and
he went back to his bed again, and grannie looked, oh, so white and
spent in the morning."

"And he was at Pine-tree Hollow the other night," said Davie.

"Yes! And grannie went to meet him, and my mother was waiting for them
at the gate, and she burst out crying when she saw them coming home
together through the gloaming."

They sat for a long time silent after that. Indeed, there was not
another word spoken till they heard the children's voices, and knew that
it was time to go to the house again. Then Katie stooped and laved the
water on her tear-stained face before she turned to go.

"It will all work for good, Katie, you may be sure of that," said her
brother huskily, as they went up the brae together.

"Yes, to those who love Him. So the promise is good for grannie and
him--and, oh, Davie! if we were only sure for us all."

There were smiles on Katie's face when she said this, and tears too, and
it was doubtful which of them would have way, till her grandfather's
voice settled it. She had only smiles for him, as he came out at the
door with his staff in his hand, and looking as if he needed it to lean
upon, but looking, at the same time, brighter and more like himself than
Katie had seen him for a while. She turned and went with him toward the
pasture-bars, his favourite walk. They went slowly on together,
speaking few words, content to be silent in each other's company.

It was a bonny day, the old man said, and the grass was fine and green;
and Katie bade him look at the barley turning yellow already, and at the
purple shadows on the great hay-field as the wind passed over it.

"I like to watch them," said Katie, "and, grandfather, doesna it mind
you of the waves