r mother's heart was set at rest
about her, and that she got more time for all else that she had to do;
and all thought well of the new lass for her care of little Marjorie.

The mother, who had consented to these new doings with misgiving, began,
after a little, to see the change for the better that was being wrought
in the child. Long before midsummer there was dawning a soft little
gleam of colour on Marjorie's cheek, not at all like the feverish tints
that used to come with weariness or fretfulness or excitement of any
kind. The movements of the limbs and of the slender little body were
freer and stronger, and quite unconsciously, it seemed, she helped
herself in ways on which she had never ventured before.

Her father saw the change too, though not so soon as her mother; but
having seen it, he was the more hopeful of the two. And by and by they
spoke to one another, saying if this thing could be done, or that, their
Marjorie might be helped and healed, and grow strong and tall like the
other bairns, and have a hopeful and happy life before her. But they
paused when they had got thus far, knowing that the child was in God's
hands, and that if it were His will to bring about the fulfilment of
their desire, He would also show a way in which it was to be done.
Whether this might be or not, their little gentle darling would ay be,
as she had ay been, the dearest blessing in their happy home.

"And may God bless Allison Bain, however it is to be."

"Yes," said the mother. "I think a blessing is already coming to her
through the child."

"Is she less sad, think you? She seems more at home among us, at
least."

"I cannot say that she is lass sad. But her sadness is no longer utter
gloom and despair, as it seemed to be at first. And she says her
prayers now, Marjorie tells me. I see myself that she listens to what
you say in the kirk. I think it may be that she is just coming out of
the darkness of some great sorrow which had at first seemed to her to
end all. She is young and strong, and it is natural that her burden of
trouble, whatever it may be, should grow lighter as the time goes by.
Oh! she is sad still, and she is sometimes afraid, but she is in a
better state to bear her trouble, whatever it may be, than she was when
she came first among us. I sometimes think if some good and pleasant
thing were to come into her life, some great surprise, that might take
her thoughts quite off the past, she might