when, with the quickness of
the rural eye which always spies an approaching figure, he noticed a
man turn in from the highway and walk briskly up the snowy lane. The
boy gave a low whistle; his face grew dark with anger. It was the new
master! He had found out the condition of the school then, and had
come to report to his grandparents. McAllister at his worst was better
than this fellow, for McAllister was no sneak. But even in his anger,
he chuckled mischievously when he considered what an exhibition
Monteith would surely make of himself if he attempted to lodge
complaints with Big Malcolm against his grandson.

But instead of turning up the path to the door, the new master followed
the track that led round the house under the Silver Maple.

At first Scotty was of a mind to dodge round the woodpile and escape;
but he was too late; Monteith had already caught sight of him; so he
waited, sullen and defiant.

The new master lost no time in making his errand known.

"I came to offer an apology, Ralph Stanwell," he said gravely, "for
what I said concerning your name. I found out my mistake only this
afternoon."

Scotty's defiant air changed to one of amazement; his eyes fell, he
felt suddenly ashamed.

"I hope you will accept an explanation, though it does not at all atone
for what I said," continued the schoolmaster earnestly. "I am truly
ashamed of myself for making such a stupid blunder."

Scotty squirmed in embarrassment. He had never in his life witnessed
any such dignified reparation of a wrong, and in contrast, his own late
conduct looked childish and almost barbarous.

"Oh, it will not matter, whatever," he stammered abruptly, and in a
manner much more ungracious than his feelings warranted.

"But it does matter very much. It was no way for one man to speak to
another."

Scotty experienced a glow of mingled pride and shame; the new master
considered him a man then, and he had not played the man's part! "But,
you see," continued Monteith, "I felt so sure. It was your Highland
accent, and your--your general MacDonald appearance that to my
ignorance made your statement unbelievable."

The schoolmaster had unwittingly struck the right chord.

Scotty smiled shyly but amicably. "Oh, it will be jist nothing," he
said generously.

"Won't you shake hands, then, and let me feel I am quite forgiven?"

But Scotty did not put out his hand; he stood shifting from one foot to
the other, looking down