than
he had promised. Was he there still? or had any ill happened to him?
She could wait with patience for the sight of him, even for years, if
she could but be sure that he was safe and well. And she could only
strive to wait with patience whether she heard or not.

She was saying something like this to herself as she sat in the silent
house one night, when the kitchen-door opened and Saunners Crombie came
in. The minister was not at home, and Mrs Hume, who was not very well,
was up-stairs with her little daughter. All this Allison told him, and
asked him to sit down, with no thought that he would do so, for few
words had ever passed between them. He sat down, however, and leaned
over the fire with his hands spread out, for "the nicht was cauld," he
said.

Allison brought dry peats and mended the fire, and then took to her
stocking-mending again. It would not have been easy for her to begin a
conversation with Crombie under any circumstances. It seemed impossible
to do so now, for what could she say to him? Saunners had been in deep
affliction. His wife was dead, and he had just returned from her burial
in a distant parish, and it seemed to Allison that it would be
presumption in her to utter a word of condolence, and worse still to
speak about indifferent things.

She stole a glance at him now and then as she went on with her work.
How old, and grey, and grim he looked! And how sad and solitary the
little house at the edge of the moss must be, now that his wife was not
there! His grey hair and his bowed head 'minded her of her father; and
this man had no child to comfort him, as she had tried to comfort her
father when her mother died. She was very sorry for him.

Her sympathy took a practical turn, and she rose suddenly and went out.
The tea-kettle was singing on the hearth, and when she returned she went
to the dresser and took the teapot down.

"Ye're chilled and weary, and I am going to make you a cup of tea," said
she. Saunners looked up in surprise.

"There's nae occasion. I'll get my supper when I gae hame."

He made a little pause before the word, as though it were not easy to
say it.

"Ay, will ye. But that will be a while yet. And I must do as I am
bidden. The mistress would have come down, but she's no' just very well
the night, and is going to her bed. The minister may be in soon."

So the tea was made and butter spread upon the bannocks, and then
Allison made herself busy her