ight with thankful love as he looked in upon them.

It was not a large room, and might have seemed crowded and uncomfortable
to unaccustomed eyes. For all the six sons were there--the youngest in
the cradle, and the little daughter's couch took up the corner between
the window and the fire. The tea-table was spread with both the leaves
up, and there was not much room certainly between it and the other
table, on which many books and papers were piled, or the corner where
the minister's arm-chair stood.

The chair was brought forward in a twinkling, and he was seated in it
with his little white dove again on his knee. This was the usual
arrangement for this hour evidently. To-night the brothers stood before
them in a half circle looking on.

"Well, and how has my Marjorie been all this long time?"

"Oh! I have been fine and well, father, and the time has not been so
very long. Do you ken what Mrs Esselmont has sent me? A doll. A fine
doll with joints in her knees, and she can sit down. And her clothes
come off and on, just like anybody's. Jack has made a stool for her,
and he said he would make me a table and a chair if you brought a knife
to him when you came home. Did you bring Jack a knife, father?"

"Well--I'm not just sure yet. I will need to hear how Jack has been
behaving before we say anything about a knife," said her father; but his
smile was reassuring, though his words were grave.

"I think Jack has been good, father. And mother was here, ye ken, and
she would settle it all, and not leave anything over till you come home,
unless it were something serious," added the child gravely.

Jack hung his head.

"So I am to let bygones be bygones?" said his father.

"And, father," said the child again, her sweet, shrill voice breaking
through the suppressed noise of her brothers--"Allie has come!" And
even the introduction of the wonderful doll had brought no brighter look
to the little pale face. "Allie has come, and I like Allie."

"Do you, love? That is well."

"Yes, father. Eh! but she's bonny and strong! When she carried me up
the stair to my bed, I shut my een, and I thought it might be father
himself, Robin is strong, too, and so is Jack, but I'm not ay just so
sure of them," said Marjorie, looking deprecatingly at her brothers,
"and I ay feel as if I must help mother when she carries me, because
she's whiles weary. But it is almost as good as having you, father,
when Allie takes me