e, I would have gone. And,
afterwards, if he has a mind to cross the sea, he shall have a fair
chance to begin a new life over there. I will be his friend. He shall
be like a young brother to me."

Allison uttered a glad cry and covered her face with her hands.

"I mauna greet. But oh! you have lightened my heavy heart."

"I only wish you could come with him," said Mr Hadden sadly. "It would
be well for you both."

"But I cannot--for a while--because I am going to lose myself, and if I
were with Willie I would be found again. But you will tell him that I
will ay have him in my heart--and sometime I will come to him, maybe.
I'll ay have that hope before me."

"But, Allison--where are you going?--I hope--"

"I must tell no one where I am going. Somebody might ask you about me,
and it is better that you should not ken even if I could tell you. Even
Willie mustna ken--for a while."

There was time for no more words. A little bowed old woman with a great
mutch on her head, and a faded plaid upon her shoulders, came creeping
through among the graves.

"Allie, my woman," she whispered, "ye'll need to lose no time. I hae
seen the factor riding round the hill by the ither road. He lookit unco
angry-like, and his big dog was wi' him. Lie laich for a whilie till
he's weel by, and then tak aff ye're hose and shoon and step into the
burn and gae doon beyont the steppin'-stanes till ye get in to the
hallow and ye'll bide safe in my bit hoosie till the first sough be
past."

Allison took a bundle of papers from beneath her shawl.

"They are for the minister. It is about the keepin' o' the place till
Willie comes home," said she.

But the little old woman interposed:

"You maun gie them to me. The minister maun hae nae questions to answer
about them, but just to say that auld Janet Mair gie'd them to him, and
he can send the factor to me."

She took the papers and put them in her pocket and went her way.
Allison looked after her for a moment, then drew nearer to the wall.

"Sir," said she in a whisper, "I have something to give your father. He
will ken best what to do with it. I had something to say to him, but
maybe it is as well to say nothing. And what could I say? Tell him not
to think ill of me for what I must do."

"Allison," said Mr Hadden gravely, "my father loves you dearly. It
would break his heart to think of harm coming to you. I am afraid for
you, Allison."

"Can anything worse come