told me your name? How
was I to ken?" added John, as Willie hung his head. "I did ken you as
soon as ever I saw your face. Yes, I have seen your sister. She is
safe where she is. No evil hand can touch her, and in a while she is
coming out here to you."

Poor Willie Bain was but weak yet, and the tears were running down his
cheeks, while John told him in few words what his sister had been doing,
how she had won the respect of all who had known her, and how she had
now gone away from Scotland with a good friend, but was looking forward
to the time when she might join her brother, so that they might have
again a home together.

"And, Willie, my lad," added John, gravely, "if I had a sister like
yours, I would make a man of myself for her sake."

"You are a man already," said Willie, with a sound which might have been
either a laugh or a sob. "As for me--yes, I ken I havena been taking
right care of myself for a while. I fell into ill hands down yonder.
But now I have you, and I _will_ be a man for Allie's sake."

There had been tokens visible of the fact that the young man had not
been "taking care of himself," but John had spoken no word which
betrayed his knowledge.

They were in the garden at this time, sitting in a wide, green walk,
between high rows of currant-bushes, a great apple-tree making a
grateful shade around them. By and by they rose and walked up and down,
John lending his strength to help his friend's weakness; and he asked:

"Would you not like to stay here a little while?"

"Till I get my strength back again? Yes, I would like it well. I mean
sometime to have land of my own, and could begin to learn here the new
ways that are needed in a new country. Yes, I would like well to bide
here for a while."

He spoke eagerly and hopefully.

"I wish Allie were here. There would be no fear then," said Willie,
looking up at John with Allie's wistful eyes.

"She cannot come for a time. It is likely that she might be sought for
here--in Mr Hadden's neighbourhood, I mean. But, Willie man, I think
it is as well that she should not come just now, even for your sake. It
_is you who_ would be _looking_ up to her, because she is wiser than
you, and maybe stronger. She would lead, and you would follow. That
might be well, in a way. But it would be better, it would be far more
manly for you to learn to stand by your own strength--to walk by your
own wisdom. Of course, I mean by the help of God,