me--quite sure--in the way that God
forgives? Come and stand where I can see your face."

Allison in her surprise at his words neither answered nor moved.

"For ye see, if ye were to fail me, I doubt I could hardly keep hold of
the Lord himself. If there is one thing that the minister has said
oftener than another, it is this, that when God forgives He also
receives. You believe this surely? Come and stand where I can see your
face."

Allison laid down her work, and came and stood not very near him, but
where the light fell full upon her.

"I cannot but be sorry for--what happened, but I bear no anger against
you for it now. Yes, I have forgiven. I wish you no ill. I wish you
every good. I am far sorrier for you than I am for myself. God sees my
heart."

She did not need to prove her words. He knew that they were true. If
she had not been sorry for him, if she had not forgiven him, and had
pity upon him, why should she have come to him at all? But God's way
went beyond that. He not only pitied and pardoned, He received, loved,
saved. But he was afraid to say all this to her.

"In sickness and trouble she has been willing to stand by me, as she
stands by all suffering creatures. That is all. And she is not one of
those women who long for ease and prosperous days, or for anything that
I could offer her to tempt her. I must just content myself with what
she freely gives, nor ask for more."

Then he turned away his face, and Allison did not move till he spoke
again.

"You could help me greatly with the doctor, if ye were to try."

Allison made a gesture of dissent.

"That is little likely," said she.

"He thinks much of you, and ye ken it well."

"Does he? It must be because he thinks I am kind to all the poor folk
yonder--not because he thinks me wise," added she with a smile.

"As to wisdom,--that's neither here nor there in this matter. I am
going hame to my ain house. That's decided, whatever may be said by any
doctor o' them a'. As for life and death--they are no' in the doctors'
hands, though they whiles seem to think it. I'm going hame, whether it
be to live or to die. But I want no vexation about it; I'm no' able to
wrangle with them. But if you were to speak to Doctor Fleming--if you
were to tell him that you are willing to go with me--to do your best for
me, he would make no words about it, but just let me go."

Allison's colour changed, but she stood still and said quietly