dispose of me than any
one else. Be it so."

"When folks are wed, they commonly have gifts made them," said Haldane
with a smile. "I haven't much to give, and you'll think my gift a queer
one: but I wish you'd take it, Ermine. It's Gib."

"I will take Gib and welcome, and be very thankful to you," answered
Ermine in some surprise. "But, Mother Haldane, you are leaving yourself
all alone. I was afraid you would miss me, after all these weeks, and
if you lose Gib too, won't you be lonely?"

"Miss you!" repeated the old woman in a tremulous voice. "Miss you, my
white bird that flew into my old arms from the cruel storm? Sha'n't I
miss you? But it won't be for long. Ay! when one has kept company with
the angels for a while, one's pretty like to miss them when they fly
back home. But you'd best take Gib. The Wise Woman knows why. Only I
don't tell all my secrets. And it won't be for long."

Haldane had been laying fresh sticks on the embers while she spoke. Now
she turned to Stephen.

"She'd best have Gib," she said. "He's like another creature since she
came. She'll take care of him. And you'll take care of her. I told
you last time you were here as I'd do the best for her, not for you.
But this is the best for both of you. And maybe the good Lord'll do the
best for me. Ermine says He's not above keeping a poor old woman
company. But whatever comes, and whatever you may hear, you bear in
mind that I did my best for you."

"Ay, that I'm sure you've done, Mother," replied Stephen warmly. "As
for Gib, I'll make him welcome for your sake; he looks rather
comfortable now, so I think he'll get along."

It certainly was not too much to say that Gib was another creature.
That once dilapidated-looking object, under Ermine's fostering care, had
developed into a sleek, civilised, respectable cat; and as he sat on her
lap, purring and blinking at the wood-fire, he suggested no ideas of
discomfort.

"Ay, I've done my best," repeated the old woman with a sigh. "The Lord
above, He knows I've done it. You'd best be off with the morning light.
I can't be sure--Well, I mustn't tell my secrets."

Stephen was inclined to be amused with the Wise Woman's reiteration of
this assertion. What fancy she had taken into her head he could not
guess. It was some old-womanly whim, he supposed. If he could have
guessed her reason for thus dismissing them in haste--if he had seen in
the embers what she saw coming near