ere is no doubt as to that--no nonsense about them--so
full of spirits and fun, and yet so lady-like and quite, and I heard
Emily's voice, when joining in the prayer, it was so true and earnest."

"I was nearest Mary, and was struck by the genuine tone of her's,"
observed Donald.

"Do you know, David, that I had made up my mind to follow the example of
Mr Skinner, and to live a bachelor for ten years to come at least, and
then, perhaps, to go back to the old country to look out for a wife.
But eh! that looking out for a wife must be unsatisfactory work at best.
How can a man possibly discover the real character and disposition of a
lady when the object he has in view is suspected, if not well known."

"We may be sure we shall be guided aright if we seek guidance in that as
in all other matters," answered David. "But I cannot help hoping that
neither you nor I need be compelled to make the expedition you suggest.
I have sought guidance, and I am sure that in God's good time we shall
be directed aright."

Day after day, when their work was over, they had some cogent reason for
calling at their friend's house; and when Margaret next met them, Donald
confessed that if he ever could venture to marry he should be thankful
to make Mary Ramsden his wife, while David made the same acknowledgment
with regard to her younger sister.

Happily, in a prosperous country like Canada, to steady and industrious
men like the young Morrisons, the impediments were not insuperable, nor,
indeed, did they take long to overcome.

Faithful Janet was overjoyed when she heard that the lassies she so much
admired had promised to become the wives of her twa bairns, with a full
approval of their mother and uncle. As they agreed that their old house
might not always be sufficiently large to hold them both, they moved
further off to the west, where they were enabled to purchase, by the
sale of their already well cultivated farm, two good sized allotments of
land, on each of which they reared a comfortable log-house, where,
shortly afterwards, they and their brides took up their abode.

"My work is among my fellow-creatures," observed Mr Skinner, "or I
should be much inclined, my dear nephews, to follow your example, and
move nearer you."

He therefore remained at the now well advanced township, though before
long, to their great satisfaction, the Galbraiths became their near
neighbours, Alec having purchased a property a little beyond theirs.