s Cameron accepted the explanation
with readiness. Indeed, she said, she would have been real vexed if Mr
Finlay had stayed behind on her account--she showed herself well aware
of the importance of a nomination, and the desirability of responding to
it.

"It will just give me an opportunity of seeing the town," she said,
looking at it through the cab windows as they drove; and Dr Drummond had
to admit that she seemed a sensible creature. Other things being
equal, Finlay might be doing very well for himself. As they talked of
Scotland--it transpired that Dr Drummond knew all the braes about Bross
as a boy--he found himself more than ever annoyed with Finlay about the
inequality of other things; and when they passed Knox Church and Miss
Cameron told him she hadn't realized it was so imposing an edifice, he
felt downright sorry for the woman.

Dr Drummond had persuaded Finlay to go to Winnipeg with a vague hope
that something in the fortnight's grace thus provided, might be
induced to happen. The form it oftenest took to his imagination was Miss
Christie's announcement, when she set foot upon the station platform,
that she had become engaged, on the way over, to somebody else, some
fellow-traveller. Such things, Dr Drummond knew, did come about, usually
bringing distress and discomfiture in their train. Why, then, should
they not happen when all the consequences would be rejoiceful?

It was plain enough, however, that nothing of the kind had come to pass.
Miss Christie had arrived in Elgin, bringing her affections intact;
they might have been in any one of her portmanteaux. She had come with
definite calm intention, precisely in the guise in which she should have
been expected. At the very hour, in the very clothes, she was there.
Robust and pleasant, with a practical eye on her promising future, she
had arrived, the fulfilment of despair. Dr Drummond looked at her with
acquiescence, half-cowed, half-comic, wondering at his own folly in
dreaming of anything else. Miss Cameron brought the situation, as it
were, with her; it had to be faced, and Dr Drummond faced it like a
philosopher. She was the material necessity, the fact in the case, the
substantiation of her own legend; and Dr Drummond promptly gave her all
the consideration she demanded in this aspect. Already he heard himself
pronouncing a blessing over the pair--and they would make the best of
it. With characteristic dispatch he decided that the marriage should
t