in her arms."

Marjorie was "whiles weary" also, it seemed. She had talked more than
all the rest of them put together, which was not her way in general; so
she laid her head down on her father's shoulder, and said no more till
tea was brought in. It was the new maid who brought in the bright
tea-kettle at last, and set it on the side of the grate. Marjorie
raised her head and put out a hand to detain her.

"Father, this is Allison Bain. And, Allie, ye must tell father about
the lady. Father, Allie kenned a lady once, who was like me when she
was little, and hardly set her foot to the ground for many a year and
day. I think she must have been even worse than me, for once they had
her grave-clothes made," said the child in an awed voice, "and when she
didna die, they were hardly glad, for what was her life worth to her,
they said. But she was patient and good, and there came a wise woman to
see her and whether it was the wise woman that helped her or just the
Lord himself, folk couldna agree, but by and by she grew strong and well
and went about on her own feet like other folk and grew up to be a
woman, and was the mother of sons before she died."

Jack and his brothers laughed at the climax, but the child took no
notice of their mirth.

"It might happen to me too, father, if a wise woman were to come, or if
the Lord himself were to take me in hand."

"Ay, my lammie," said her father softly.

"The mother of sons before she died," repeated the child. "But she did
die at last, father. It ay comes to that."

"Ay, dear, soon or late, it ay comes to that."

"But, father, I wouldna like it to be soon with me. And if only a wise
woman would come here--But never mind, father," added she, laying her
soft little hand on his as his kind eyes grew grave; "I can wait. I'm
only little yet, and there's plenty of time, and now Allie has come, and
she is strong and kind. I like Allie," she added, caressing the hand
which she had been holding fast all the time. "Allie says that maybe
the best thing that could happen to me would be to die, but I would like
to live and go about like other folk a whilie first."

"I am sure Allie will be good to you," said her father.

"Ay, that will I," said Allie, looking gravely down upon the child.

"Come, now, tea is ready," said the mother's cheerful voice. And rather
quietly, considering their number, the boys took their places at the
table.

There were five of them; the six