again, and she lives over the
happy days when, bairns together, they played among the heather, or
followed the sheep on the hills; when their father was like God to them,
ay loving them, and being kind to them; but not ay seeming just so
mindful of them as their mother was. Their mother was ill whiles, and
took less heed of things, and needed much done for her, but they loved
their mother best. At least they never feared her, as they sometimes
feared their father, who yet loved them both--Willie best, as did all
who ever saw his face.

And thus on through all the weary way, her thoughts would travel through
days of still content, through doubt, and fear, and anguish, to the end,
only to begin again.

If Dr Fleming had known what good reason there was for the fears which
he had unconsciously betrayed to the minister, he would hardly have
ventured to send Allison Bain to the house of his friend. But he could
have done nothing better for her. A change was what she needed--
something to take her out of herself, to make her forget, even for a
little while, now and then, what the last year had brought her. With
new scenes and faces around her, new duties and interests to fill up her
time and thoughts, she had the best chance of recovering from the
strokes which had fallen upon her, and of "coming to herself" again.

For nothing had happened to her that is not happening to some one every
day of the year. Sin and sorrow and terrible suffering had touched her
and hers. One had sinned, all had suffered, and she was left alone to
bear the burden of her changed life, and she must bear it for her
brother's sake. And she had no refuge.

For her faith in God had been no stronger than her faith in her brother,
and her brother had failed her. And God had not put out a hand to help
him--to save him from his sin and its consequences, and nothing could be
changed now.

Yet the first months of winter did something for her, though her
mistress hardly discovered it, and though she did not know it herself.
Her day's work tired her in a natural, healthy way, so that after a time
her sleep at night was unbroken, and she had less time for the
indulgence of unhappy thoughts. But she did not, for a good while after
three months were over, take much conscious pleasure in anything that
was happening around her.

She had much to do. The short days of winter were made long to her.
For hours before the slow coming dawn she was going s