; I can tell them that, if it does come to
anything, which I hope it won't."

"Finlay's fine in the pulpit," said John Murchison cautiously.

"Oh, the man's well enough; it's him I'm sorry for. I don't call Advena
fitted to be a wife, and last of all a minister's. Abby was a treasure
for any man to get, and Stella won't turn out at all badly; she's taking
hold very well for her age. But Advena simply hasn't got it in her, and
that's all there is to say about it." Mrs Murchison pulled her needles
out right side out with finality. "I don't deny the girl's talented in
her own way, but it's no way to marry on. She'd much better make up her
mind just to be a happy independent old maid; any woman might do worse.
And take no responsibilities."

"There would always be you, Mother, for them to fall back on." It was as
near as John Murchison ever got to flattery.

"No thank you, then! I've brought up six of my own, as well as I was
able, which isn't saying much, and a hard life I've had of it. Now I'm
done with it; they'll have to find somebody else to fall back on. If
they get themselves into such a mess"--Mrs Murchison stopped to laugh
with sincere enjoyment--"they needn't look to me to get them out."

"I guess you'd have a hand, Mother."

"Not I. But the man isn't thinking of any such folly. What do you
suppose his salary is?"

"Eight hundred and fifty dollars a year. They raised it last month."

"And how far would Advena be able to make that go, with servants getting
the money they do and expecting the washing put out as a matter of
course? Do you remember Eliza, John, that we had when we were first
married? Seven dollars a month she got; she would split wood at a pinch,
and I've never had one since that could do up shirts like her. Three
years and a half she was with me, and did everything, everything I
didn't do. But that was management, and Advena's no manager. It would
be me that would tell him, if I had the chance. Then he couldn't say he
hadn't been warned. But I don't think he has any such idea."

"Advena," pronounced Mr Murchison, "might do worse."

"Well, I don't know whether she might. The creature is well enough to
preach before a congregation. But what she can see in him out of the
pulpit is more than I know. A great gawk of a fellow, with eyes that
always look as if he were in the middle of next week! He may be able
to talk to Advena, but he's no hand at general conversation; I know
he finds precious l