the appointed hour, and found all who had a
right to be present on the occasion, already there. It was her friend
Doctor Fleming who came forward to the door, and led her into the room.

"Mrs Esselmont!" said Allison, as the lady advanced to meet her.

"Yes, Allison, I am here," said she gravely.

There were a number of gentlemen present, and voices were heard also, in
the room beyond. Mrs Esselmont's presence and support were just what
Allison needed to help her self-possession, as Mr Rainy brought one
after another to greet her; and she went through the ceremony of
introduction with a gentle dignity which surprised only those to whom
she was a stranger. The last hand that was held out to her was that of
"the next of kin," as Mr Rainy announced gravely.

He was a tall man, with a brown face and smiling eyes, and the grasp of
his hand was firm and kindly. They looked at each other for a moment,
and then Allison turned a triumphant glance on Mr Rainy.

"Mistress Allison," said the new-comer, "I have been hearing strange
things about you."

"But only things of which you are glad to hear," said Allison eagerly.
"I have heard of you too, though I do not remember ever to have heard
your name."

"I am Allan Douglas, the son of Mr Brownrig's eldest sister."

He had not time to say more. Allison put her other hand on the hand
which held hers.

"Not Captain Douglas from Canada? Not Miss Mary's husband?" said
Allison, speaking very softly.

She saw the answer in his smiling eyes, even before he spoke, "Yes, the
husband of Mary Esselmont,--the daughter of your friend."

Allison turned with a radiant face to those who were looking on.

"And is not this the best way? Is not this as right as right can be?"
said she, still speaking low.

Not one of them had a word to answer her. But they said to one another
that she was a strange creature, a grand creature, a woman among a
thousand. Allison might well laugh at all this when it was told her
afterward. For what had she done? She had held to her first
determination, and had taken her own will against the advice and even
the entreaty of those who were supposed to be wiser than she. She had
only refused to take up a burden which she could not have borne. What
was there that was grand in all that?

"As right as right can be," she repeated, as she went over to the sofa
where Mrs Esselmont was sitting. "And now you will have your Mary home
again," said she.

H