respondence with the Government was managed by
sending messengers in open boats to Berwick, whence the garrison officer
forwarded the despatches to London. In such a state of things, the
inhabitants of remote western islands must bear suspense as well as they
could.

No one bore it so well as the Widow Fleming. Her only son was in one of
the absent companies; she had no other near relation in the world; and
she had on her hands a sinking and heart-sick neighbour, whose pains of
suspense were added to her own. Yet Annie was the most cheerful person
now on the island. When Helsa was fatigued and dispirited by her
attendance on Lady Carse, and was sent home for a day's holiday, she
always came back with alacrity, saying that after all, the Macdonalds'
side of the island was the most dismal of the two. Nobody there cared
to sing, whereas Annie would always sing when asked, and often was heard
to do so when alone. And she had such a store of tales about the old
sea-kings, and the heroes of these islands, and of Scotch history, that
some of the younger women came night after night to listen. As they
knitted or spun, or let fall their work, while their eyes were fixed on
Annie, they forget the troubles of their own time, and the blasts and
rains through which they should have to find their way home.

At the end of these evenings, Lady Carse often declared herself growing
better; and she then went to sleep on the imagination that she would
soon be restored to Edinburgh life by Mr Hope's means, and be happy at
last. In the morning, she always declared herself sinking, and fretted
over the hardship of dying just when her release was drawing near.
Annie thought she was sinking, and never contradicted her when she said
so; but yet she tried to bring some of the cheerfulness of the evenings
into the morning. She sympathised in the pain of suspense, and of
increasing weakness when life was brightening; but she steadily spoke of
hope.

She was sincerely convinced that efforts which could not fail were
making for Lady Carse's release, and she thought it likely that the
mother and children would meet on earth, though it were only to exchange
a hope that they might meet in heaven. Sincerely expecting some great
and speedy change in the poor lady's fortunes, she could dwell upon the
prospect from day to day with a sympathy which did not disappoint even
Lady Carse. Every morning she rose with the feeling that great things
mig