him yourself in the town. Are you very tired?"

"I am not so very tired. Yes, I will go now," said Allison.

So she turned down the lane and went round by the green, as she had gone
so many times before, not without some troubled thoughts of her own.
She found Mrs Beaton sitting alone in the firelight.

"Come away in, Allison. I have been expecting you," said she.

Allison sat down at her bidding, and gave Mrs Hume's message.

"I hope you may see him. But I have nothing to say or to send. He will
be home soon. And you are glad to be going, Allison, for the sake of
the child?"

"Yes, I am glad to be going."

"But you are not sorry that you came here? You have been content?"

"No. I had to go away from home. I am not sorry I came here.
Everybody at the manse has been kind."

"And you have been good to them and to me. I am glad to have kenned
you, Allison Bain," but Mrs Beaton sighed as she said it.

What could Allison answer? Indeed, what was to be said between these
two? Nothing, unless all might be said. A word might have broken the
spell of silence between them, but the word was not spoken.

"It would make her unhappy to know that her secret had been told to us,"
thought Mrs Beaton. And Allison thought: "His mother would be grieved,
if she knew all; and she never need know. He will forget me when I am
gone away."

And so, after a few quiet words about other matters, they said
"good-bye" to one another. Allison lingered a moment, looking down with
wistful eyes on the gentle old face of her friend.

"Have you anything to say to me, Allison Bain?"

But Allison shook her head. "Nothing that it would please you to hear;
and it is all over now, and I am going away."

"Yes, you are going away. I may not be here when you come back again,
and I must say one thing to you. I trust you, Allison Bain. I believe
you to be good and true, whatever trouble may have come into your life
by the ill-doing of others. May the Lord have you in His keeping, and
bring you safe through all trouble `into a large place.' Kiss me, my
dear."

Allison stooped and kissed her, and went away without a word. As she
turned from the door a hand was laid upon her arm, and a voice said:

"Is it you, Allison Bain? I would like a word wi' ye. I'll no' keep ye
lang."

Allison was tired and sad at heart, and she longed to be alone. She
could not but yield, however, to the entreating voice of the mistress,
and she