nly for a few days," exclaimed
Mrs Galbraith. "I could not bear the thoughts of his going away
without seeing him. But you have not said where he is going?"

"I will tell him to come if he can," said Mr Galbraith, "he is not,
however, going to a distant country, but merely to Canada, where he is
to assist in forming a branch of the firm, either at Montreal or
Toronto, as the partners are anxious to commence without delay. I
consider the appointment a feather in the cap of so young a man."

Margaret listened eagerly to all that was said. She was very certain
that Alec was fitted for any post which might be assigned to him. She
trusted, however, he would find time to get home and see them.

"Donald and he will meet to a certainty; how delightful for both of
them, and we shall hear from each how the other is getting on, and they
will be of mutual assistance. Perhaps they will go out in the same
ship," she thought.

Both Mrs Galbraith and Margaret were to be disappointed. A letter was
received from Alec two days later, saying that the vessel which was to
convey Mr Elliott, the principal of the firm, and himself, was to sail
immediately, and that no time could be allowed him to run down to
Scotland. Mrs Galbraith greatly felt this announcement, but this was
not the chief cause of her sorrow. She had long felt her health
failing, and knowing that her days were numbered, she feared that she
should never again see her son. All she could do was to commend him to
the protecting care of Heaven, and to pray, from the very depths of her
soul, that even though it might be through trials and troubles, he might
be brought to accept the truth as it is in Christ Jesus, and have a
living faith in His all-sufficient sacrifice. Would that all mothers
prayed thus for their absent sons exposed to the wiles of Satan and the
snares and temptations of the world. Such prayers would assuredly be
heard; how many wandering sheep would be brought into the fold of
Christ?

Margaret felt very sad when she heard that Alec was not coming, but she
kept her feelings to her own bosom. She had to return home to assist
Janet in completing Donald's outfit. She and her old nurse worked
harder than ever, there still seemed so much to be done, and Mr Todd
had sent Donald word that he must hold himself in readiness to start at
a short notice. The expected order came.

"Fare-ye-weel my bairn, fare-ye-weel, ne'er forget that the deil, like a
ro