ith asked many questions concerning her, and Scotty
listened eagerly, but his new friend offered no explanation of his
interest.

When it was time to depart, Big Malcolm was for insisting that he
should spend the night with them; but when he declared that he must
return to the Glen, or Mrs. Thompson would be worried, his hostess
seized the teapot again, and another supper was spread out, of which
the guest had perforce to partake before leaving.

That finished, Big Malcolm reverently laid aside his bonnet, and Scotty
brought him the old yellow-leaved Bible. The old man read the 103d
Psalm in a triumphant tone that showed he had passed all his
temptations and trials, and now in a serene old age his soul blessed
the Lord for His guidance.

And then they sang a Psalm, Old Farquhar coming out from his corner to
join them. They sang it in English, in deference to the guest's lack
of Gaelic, and the brown rafters rang to the solemn old Scottish tune
in harmony with the beautiful words:

"Oh, taste and see that God is good:
Who trusts in Him is bless'd!"

And listening, the man of the world experienced a vague sensation of
something like regretful envy. Had he not, in his broader life, missed
some uplifting joy, some great blessing in which these old people
rejoiced?

While Monteith was taking a lingering farewell and promising a speedy
return, Scotty went to a corner and lit the lantern, and in spite of
the schoolmaster's protests, insisted upon accompanying him for a mile
to show him the short road across the swamp.

The two walked side by side along the snowy path, the lantern flashing
fitfully amongst the bare branches and dark boles of the trees.
Monteith chatted away pleasantly, but Scotty answered only in
monosyllables. He was employed in making desperate efforts to bring
about some allusion to the condition of the schoolhouse. But the new
master seemed to have totally forgotten school affairs, and when they
came to the end of the forest path and stood upon the Glenoro road,
saying good-night, this strange man had not in the smallest way
recurred to the shameful subject. Scotty was in despair. "It would be
a fool's trick we were doing!" he burst forth, as Monteith held out his
hand in farewell, "if we could jist be having another day----" He
stopped overcome.

The new master did not seem to need an explanation of this apparently
irrelevant speech. "Could you fix it all up in one day?" he inquir