nes." And being there he could only turn and go home again, carrying
his troubled thoughts with him.

He had many of them, and the thought which pressed upon him most
painfully for the moment was one which need not have troubled him at
all. How was he to meet his mother and speak to her about Allison Bain
with all this angry turmoil in his heart? He was angry with himself,
with Crombie, even with Allison.

"How could I have thought--" she had said, looking at him with entreaty
in her lovely eyes. While she had been in his thoughts by day and in
his dreams by night, he "had never come into her mind!"

"But I could have made her think of me if I had not been a fool, with my
fine plans about rising in the world! I could make her care for me
yet," said John to himself, quite unconscious that from the window of
her room his mother's kind, anxious eyes were watching him.

"Something has happened to vex him," said she to herself. "I will not
seem to spy upon him. He will tell me, if he needs my help, in his own
time."

But she waited and listened long before his footstep came to the door,
and he went to his room without coming to say good-night as he passed.

"He is thinking I am asleep," said she with a sigh.

There was nothing to be said. That was the conclusion to which John
came that night. What could he say to his mother about Allison Bain?
If he were to speak a word, then nothing could be kept back. His mother
had a way of knowing his thoughts even before he uttered them, and why
should she be vexed at seeing the trouble which, if he spoke at all,
could not be concealed from her?

If the story must be told to his mother, Allison herself must tell it.
But why need it be told? If only that meddling old fool, Crombie, had
had the sense to hold his tongue. What good could come of speaking?
Why should not the poor soul be left to forget her troubles and to grow
content? Even his mother could only warn her and help her to get away
if it ever came to that with her. But until then silence was best.

He would have a word with Saunners to find out what he knew and what he
only suspected, and he would do what might be done to keep him silent.

John had his word with Crombie, but it did not come about in the way
which he had desired and planned. While he was the next day lingering
about the kirk in the hope of getting a word with him, Crombie was
asking for John at his mother's door.

"Come away in, Mr Cro