t. We will wait a while, and all
that may pass away."

CHAPTER THIRTY.

"Then fare ye weel, my ain true love,
And fare ye weel a while."

But Allison was in no such evil case as her friends were inclined to
believe. She was growing strong again, and she had enough to do, and a
will to do it, which to reasonable folk means content, if it does not
quite mean happiness. She still lived in Mrs Robb's house, and went to
the infirmary every day, and took pleasure in her work, the best of
pleasure,--knowing that she was doing something to soothe the pains of
those whose portion in life seemed to be only suffering and sorrow.

In helping these, she helped herself also. She forgot her own sadness,
when she saw the weary, pain-drawn faces brighten as she came near, and
she felt her own courage revived, and her strength renewed, when any
weak and hesitating word of hers had power to comfort the hearts of some
whom care or poverty or ill-requited affection had made sick, or sour,
or hopeless.

There were complaining and ingratitude to meet now and then, from some
of them. But, poor souls! they needed help and comfort all the more,
because of their unreasonable anger, or their querulous discontent. Her
kindest words, and softest touches, and longest patience were for these.
And when the cloud parted, and a light from Heaven shone in upon one
sitting in darkness, or when, for a moment, the troubled and angry
spirit was made to feel what the coming of God's grace into the heart is
like,--was not that enough to make her content?

Doctor Fleming, though he said little to her about herself or her
health, still kept his eye upon her, and soon became quite satisfied
about her. Mr Rainy, who sometimes saw her passing through the street,
wondered when she would begin to tire of her self-imposed labour, and of
getting her own will and be ready to listen to reason. But he
acknowledged to himself, that, if one could judge by her look, she
seemed well pleased with her work and her own ways thus far.

"She goes by, not seeming to see me or any other body, but her thoughts
are good and pleasant thoughts, or I am mistaken. Still, I doubt, when
she comes to stand face to face with `the next of kin,' she may have a
qualm of repentance for her foolishness. But a last will and testament
is no' to be lightly meddled with, and I will do my best for her."

So he wrote to Mr Hume, asking him to use his influence with Allison.
He