was glad, and she was sorry; but she was not afraid, since
Allison was with her.

"I will have her all to myself," said Marjorie.

John stooped to touch with his lips the little hand that lay on his arm.

"Happy little Marjorie," he whispered in her ear.

She soon fell asleep, and was carried away to bed again. While Allison
lingered beside her, John said to his friend:

"Robin, my lad, go up to your books for a while. I must have a word
with Allison."

Robin nodded his head, but he did not move till Allison returned. Then
he started up in great haste.

"I must see Guthrie for a minute. Don't go till I come back, John,"
said he. "Can I do anything for you, Allison?"

"Nothing more," said Allison; and Robin disappeared.

There was nothing said for a while. Allison took up her work. She was
taking a few necessary stitches for the student, she said. They spoke
about the child, and about those at home who would miss her greatly, and
about other things.

"Did you see my mother before you came away?" said John.

"Yes, I went to bid her good-bye on the last night."

And then she added that she thought his mother was "wearying" to see
him, and that he should go home soon.

"Yes, I have been busy of late, and I have been away. Allison, I have
been in the parish of Kilgower."

Allison laid down her work and fixed her eyes on his face, growing very
pale.

"It was a business journey. A letter came asking that some one should
be sent to make an estimate as to the cost of repairing a farmhouse. It
was asked that John Beaton might be the man sent, and when I turned the
leaf, and saw the name of Brownrig, I guessed the reason why."

Allison asked no question, but sat regarding him with troubled eyes.
All the story was not told to her, and John spoke very quietly. But it
had been an unpleasant visit to him, and had moved him greatly.

He found Brownrig waiting for him at the inn of the town, but John
refused his invitation to go to his house, saying to himself:

"If I have any lies to tell him, they would be none the easier to tell
after I had eaten his bread."

Brownrig did not take offence at the refusal, as at first he had seemed
inclined to do. He came in the morning, and was quite civil, even
friendly, as they went away together to attend to their business. He
told John about the country folk, and about the various farms which they
passed; and at last they came round by Grassie.

"`It is a go