pancakes,
and--and--and--everything."

"A bed of balsam brush and porridge! What a wonderful boy he must be,
Hughie," said Maimie, teasing him. "But isn't he just a little queer?"

"He's not a bit queer," said Hughie, stoutly. "He is the best, best,
best boy in all the world."

"Indeed! how extraordinary!" said Maimie; "you wouldn't think so to look
at him."

"I think he is just splendid," said Hughie; "don't you, mother?"

"Indeed, he is fery brown whatever," mocked Maimie, mimicking Ranald's
Highland tongue, a trick at which she was very clever, "and--not just
fery clean."

"You're just a mean, mean, red-headed snip!" cried Hughie, in a rage,
"and I don't like you one bit."

But Maimie was proud of her golden hair, so Hughie's shot fell harmless.

"And when will you be going to the sugaring-off, Mistress Murray?" went
on Maimie, mimicking Ranald so cleverly that in spite of herself Mrs.
Murray smiled.

It was his mother's smile that perfected Hughie's fury. Without a word
of threat or warning, he seized a dipper of water and threw it over
Maimie, soaking her pretty ribbons and collar, and was promptly sent
upstairs to repent.

"Poor Hughie!" said his mother, after he had disappeared; "Ranald is his
hero, and he cannot bear any criticism of him."

"He doesn't look much of a hero, auntie," said Maimie, drying her face
and curls.

"Very few heroes do," said her aunt, quietly. "Ranald has noble
qualities, but he has had very few advantages."

Then Mrs. Murray told her niece how Ranald had put himself between her
and the pursuing wolves. Maimie's blue eyes were wide with horror.

"But, auntie," she cried, "why in the world do you go to such places?"

"What places, Maimie?" said the minister, who had come into the room.

"Why, those awful places where the wolves are."

"Indeed, you may ask why," said the minister, gravely. He had heard the
story from his wife the night before. "But it would need a man to be on
guard day and night to keep your aunt from 'those places.'"

"Yes, and your uncle, too," said Mrs. Murray, shaking her head at her
husband. "You see, Maimie, we live in 'those places'; and after all,
they are as safe as any. We are in good keeping."

"And was Hughie out all night with those two boys in those woods,
auntie?"

"Oh, there was no danger. The wolves will not come near a fire, and the
boys have their dogs and guns," said Mrs. Murray; "besides, Ranald is to
be trusted."

"Trusted?