her. Didn't you love your mother too? And now to
lose a single day or hour, after so long! Oh, do let me go, Maggie
will take me if you can't."

Mr. Colquhoun stood a moment in silence looking out of the window. His
heart went with the boy, for Jeff had grown dear to him, with his frank
impulsive ways and deep strong affections.

"Well, well, perhaps something may be done. You had better go and have
a little talk about it to your aunt before you go to Mr. M'Gregor's."

Jeff looked very blank and despairing as he turned round and went
slowly up the stairs again. Aunt Annie was one of those superior
people who never change their mind. She took a vast amount of pride in
her own prompt judgment, and not for worlds would have admitted herself
in the wrong. Jeff was sure that the most urgent pleading would not
prevail to alter her decision.

No sympathetic throb for the child and mother once more to be united
would alter her resolution.

"No, Jeff, I have told your uncle that I have fully made up my mind
that the reconciliation to take place between your mother and her
family shall be under this roof. It is impossible for a child of your
age to understand this matter, and I beg that you will cease to argue.
Your mother and I parted in great bitterness, but that is past and
forgiven."

Jeff made a little gesture of anger.

"_My_ lips will be closed with regard to bygones, and when Mary is once
here I shall never recur to painful matters."

This was all very grand and magnanimous in words, but the effect it had
upon Aunt Annie's auditor was anything but soothing.

"But surely mother, when she comes by herself and is ill, would think
it kinder of you to meet her at once," he said in hot indignation.

But no words availed, and Mrs. Colquhoun kept to her determination.
She probably did not observe the set and dogged look upon the boy's
face as he turned to leave the room. He was of the same blood as
herself, and something of her own resolute nature formed part of his
character.

But Aunt Annie turned back complacently to the translation of her
German novel, without giving another thought to the deep strong
child-nature with which she came daily in contact. The persistence of
her small adversary had, indeed, ruffled her serenity for a few
minutes, but her emphatic denial of his request must certainly have
convinced him of her strength of purpose. What was the bitter
disappointment to the little aching hear