en he went away,
was no better when he returned.

"And they never told me, grannie," said he, indignantly.

"There was nothing to tell, my laddie, and you are better for going.
And now you must help Katie to cheer your grandfather, and keep your
brothers at their work."

And Davie saw that his grandfather needed to be cheered. He seemed to
have grown a very old man during the last few months, he thought. He
had gone about the farm, and kept the boys at their work, and had helped
sometimes, Katie said, while Davie was away. But now he gave all that
up to him. Mark Varney came now and then when there was anything extra
to be done; and though Davie was not so strong as before his illness,
they were as well on with their fall work as the neighbours generally.

But except with a word of advice, or an answer to questions, which Davie
was pertinacious in asking, as to what was to be done, and what left
undone, the old man took little part in what had filled his life before.
He went about the house and barns, with his head bowed, and his hands
clasped behind him, making Katie wild with the wistful, helpless longing
of his face.

"It is no good for grannie to see you so downcast, grandfather. Courage
is what is needed more than anything in a time of sickness, Betsey says.
And, grandfather, grannie is no' so very ill."

"Is she no', think you, Katie? She says it, but oh, my heart fails me."

"She says it, and I think she is right. And, grandfather, she often
says, you ken that the Lord is ay kind."

"Ay, lass! but His kindest touch cuts sore whiles. And if He were to
deal with me after my sins--"

"But, grandfather; He never does, and He hurts to heal--as I have heard
you say yourself."

"Ay. I have said it with my lips, but I doubt I was carrying a sore and
angry heart whiles, when I was putting the folk in mind. And, oh,
Katie, lassie, He is far awa'. He has hidden His face from me."

"But only for a moment, grandfather; don't you mind, `For a small moment
have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I visit thee'? And
grannie is no' so very ill."

She drew him gently from the room where grannie was slumbering, so that
she need not be disturbed. It seemed to her the strangest thing that
her grandfather should speak to her in this way, and that she should
have courage to answer him. He sat down on a seat by the door, and
leaned his chin on the hand that rested on his staff, and looked away
over