ip curled a little. "I'm very sure I can't say, but I can
imagine how she would look."

"Well, that's it--"

"But," went on Kate, "I can imagine, too, how Ranald would look back at
her if he caught her meaning."

"Well, perhaps," said Maimie, with a little laugh, "and that's just it.
Oh, I wish he were--"

"A lieutenant?" suggested Kate.

"Well, yes, I do," said Maimie, desperately.

"And if he were, you would marry him," said Kate, a shade of contempt in
her tone that Maimie failed to notice.

"Yes, I would."

Kate remained silent.

"There now, you think I am horrid, I know," said Maimie. "I suppose you
would marry him if he were a mere nobody!"

"If I loved him," said Kate, with slow deliberation, and a slight tremor
in her voice, "I'd marry him if he were--a shantyman!"

"I believe you would," said Maimie, with a touch of regret in her voice;
"but then, you've no Aunt Frank!"

"Thank Providence," replied Kate, under her breath.

"And I'm sure I don't want to offend her. Just listen to this." Maimie
pulled out a letter, and turning over the pages, found the place and
began to read: "'I am so glad to hear that you are enjoying your stay in
Quebec'--um-um-um--'fine old city'--um-um-um--'gates and streets,' 'old
days'--um-um-um--'noble citadel,' 'glorious view'--um-um-um-um--'finest
in the world'--No, that isn't it--Oh, yes, here it is: 'The De Lacys
are a very highly connected English family and very old friends of my
friends, the Lord Archers, with whom I visited in England, you know.
The mother is a dear old lady--so stately and so very particular--with
old-fashioned ideas of breeding and manners, and of course, very
wealthy. Her house in Quebec is said to be the finest in the Province,
and there are some English estates, I believe, in their line. Lieutenant
De Lacy is her only son, and from what you say, he seems to be a very
charming young man. He will occupy a very high place someday. I suppose
Kate will'--um-um-um--'Oh yes, and if Mrs. De Lacy wishes you to visit
her you might accept'--um-um--um--'and tell Kate that I should be
delighted if she could accompany me on a little jaunt through the
Eastern States. I have asked permission of her father, but she wrote you
herself about that, didn't she?--um-um-um--And then listen to this!
'How very odd you should have come across the young man from Glengarry
again--Mac Lennon, is it? Mac-something-or-other! Your Aunt Murray seems
to consider him a very st