in all things," said
John, gravely.

"Do ye ken Allie well?" asked Willie, looking up into his friend's face.

John hesitated a moment.

"I cannot say that I have known her long, or seen her often. But I know
that she has borne much trouble well and bravely, and that she must be
strong. And I know that she has walked warily and done wisely in
difficult places, so that all those who _do_ know her well, respect her,
and some few people love her dearly--my mother among the rest."

"You must tell me all about her some time," said Willie, with glistening
eyes.

"Yes," said John. Then he paused before he added:

"I think, Willie, in speaking of your sister to any one here, you should
say nothing about her marriage, since it has not been a happy one."

Willie withdrew his hand from John's arm, and turned upon him with a
face white with anger.

"Married! Happy! I'll swear that he has never touched her hand, nor
looked in her face, since that cursed day. Call you that marriage?"

"Thank God!" said John; "and may he never touch her hand, nor look upon
her face. Gently, my friend, she is safe from him now."

Then he led him back to the shadow of the apple-tree, and told him more
about his sister. He told how she had lived at the manse, and how they
had valued her there. He told of little Marjorie, whom her father and
mother had intrusted to Allison's care, and of the child's love for her,
and how Allison had been helped and comforted through her love for the
child. She was quite safe now, so faraway in the South, and no one
would harm her while she was in Mrs Esselmont's care. John talked on
till the lad had grown quiet again, and then they were called to tea.

The first words that Grandma Strong said when they came in together
were:

"You don't think of taking that boy back to that hot place to-night, do
you? I don't think you had better--for a day or two, at least."

It was all very easily settled after that. John was glad to agree with
the dear old woman. Willie was to stay at the farm till he was a little
stronger.

"We're glad to have him stay. Don't you say a word about it," was the
younger Mrs Strong's answer, when John tried to thank her for all their
kindness to his friend, for whom he felt responsible, he said, until he
should be strong and well.

"You had better stay and help us through with haying and harvesting.
You could pay your way and his too, and have something over," said Mr
St