need she had been guided to find a refuge there.

CHAPTER NINETEEN.

"Unless you can swear for life or for death
Oh! fear to call it loving."

Business made it necessary for Mrs Esselmont to remain one day in
Aberdeen. She stayed with a friend, but Allison and Marjorie found a
place prepared for them in the house where Robin, now a student in the
university, had taken up his abode.

It was a dark and rainy day, and Robin was greatly disappointed that he
could not take them out to see all that was to be seen in the town, and
Marjorie was disappointed also. But in her heart Allison was glad of
the rain and the grey mist which came when the rain was over. For how
could she be sure of those whom she might see in the streets, or of
those who might see her? Every hour that passed helped to lighten the
dull weight on her heart, and gave her courage to look forward with
hope.

Dr Fleming came to see Marjorie in the afternoon, as her father had
asked him to do. He looked at Allison with astonished eyes.

"You owe me thanks for sending you out yonder," said he.

"And so do we," said Robin.

"It was a good day for me," said Allison, and her eyes said more than
that.

"Yes, better than you know," said the doctor. "And for you, too, my wee
pale lily, if all I hear be true. And so Allison Bain is going to carry
you away and to bring you home again a bonny, blooming rose, is she?
May God grant it," added the doctor reverently.

"I will try to take good care of her," said Allison.

"I am sure of that."

When the visit was over, Allison followed the doctor to the door.

"I would be glad if I were sure that my name would not be named over
yonder," said she, casting down her eyes.

"Be glad then, for your name shall not be spoken. Yes, one man has come
to inquire about you, and more than once. When I saw his face and heard
his voice, I understood how you might well wish to keep out of his
sight. Stay in the house while you remain here. There may be others
who would speak, though I keep silence. God bless you." And then he
went away.

"I may be doing the man a wrong, since he says she is his lawfully
wedded wife, but I cannot--I have not the heart to betray her into his
hands."

In the evening John Beaton came in. Marjorie was already in her bed,
but she was not asleep; and they wrapped her in a plaid, and brought her
into the parlour again to see her friend. She had the same story to
tell. She