to do, just hear him and say
nothing till you are sure that he'll listen to reason--till he promises
not to try to see me, but to have patience and wait. I can trust him to
you, John Beaton, and I must go now."

He could not this time refuse to see the hand she held out to him. He
took it in his and held it fast, while she looked at him with eyes full
of light and longing. "John," said she softly, "ye'll mind what is said
in the Book: `I was in prison and ye came unto me.'" And then she
turned to go.

It must be owned that was a sore moment to John Beaton. He neither
spoke nor moved while she stood thus, nor when she bent down, kissed his
mother's hand, and then without a word went away. For a time, which he
did not measure, but which seemed long to his mother, he stood leaning
on the back of her chair. His face was hidden in his hands, but happily
she did not know that, and she waited till the first word should be
spoken by him. In a little he "pulled himself together," and came
forward into the light, which was but dim at the best. He snuffed the
solitary candle, and then fell to stirring the fire, which, never very
large, was in danger of disappearing under his hand. He added a dry
peat, however, and it soon blazed up again.

"Yon's a strange story, mother," he said at last. "I hardly see the
good of my meddling in it. I suppose I must go and see the man,
anyway."

"Yes, ye canna do less than that," said his mother. "I'll do more.
I'll do my best to help one who seems much in need of help, but I cannot
say that I am very hopeful as to what may come of it."

"Ye'll see when ye go what can be done. Poor lassie. Her heart is in
it."

"Yes," said John, "her heart is in it." And then they sat silent till
another knock came at the door.

It was Robin Hume this time, who had been sent to ask for Mrs Beaton,
who had not been at the kirk, and no one had got a chance to speak to
John.

"My mother said I wasna to stay," said Robin. But he came forward into
the room, now bright with firelight, and he stayed a good while, and had
much to say about various matters, and the interest with which John
seemed to listen and respond comforted Mrs Beaton concerning her son.

Of course there was something to be said about the coming winter and its
work, and some other things came in as well. Then there was a little
sparring and laughter between them, which, with a lightened heart, Mrs
Beaton gently reproved,