rry her out of the way of all boats but mine. This
island was chosen for such a purpose, and now--"

"And now," said Annie, "if the lady is afflicted with such hardness of
heart, is it not cruel to take her away from God's word and worship,
just when there is a minister coming? Oh, Macdonald! what would you do
to one who should carry away your poor sick little Malcolm to Saint
Kilda, just when your watching eye caught sight of an eastward sail, and
you knew it was the physician coming; sent, moreover, for Malcolm's
sake? What would you think then, Macdonald?"

"I should think that if Sir Alexander was in it there could be nothing
done, and there ought to be nothing said. And Sir Alexander is in this,
so I must go."

While Macdonald and his people were beating about among the caves, as
morning drew on, Lady Carse and Rollo slipped up to the house, partly to
secure a few more comforts that they had a mind for, and partly to
obtain a wide view over the sea, and a certainty whether any boats were
in sight.

"Have you brought up my oil can, Rollo?" asked his mother. "If not, you
must go for it, and never again touch it without my leave."

"I took it," said Lady Carse; "and I cannot spare it."

"It cannot be spared from this room, my lady. It never left this room
before but by my order, and it never must again."

"It shall never leave the place where it now is," declared Lady Carse,
reddening. "I threw myself on your hospitality, and you grudge me light
in the night. You, who are housed in a cottage of your own, with a
fire, and everything comfortable about you--that is, every comfort that
a poor woman like you knows how to value. You think yourself very
religious, I am aware, and I rather believe you think yourself
charitable, too; and you grudge me your oil can, when there is no one
thing on earth you can do for me but lend it."

"Your way of thinking is natural, my lady, till you better know me and
my duty. But to-day I must say that the oil can is mine, and I cannot
lend it. You will please desire Rollo to bring it to me."

"I know well enough about you and your duty, as you call it. I know
your particularity about a fancy of your own. I know well enough how
obstinate you are about it, and how selfish, that you would sacrifice me
to your whim about your duty, and your husband, and all that set of
notions. And I know more. I know what it is to have a husband, and
that you ought to be thankful that