ea. Helmsley
paused, and drew a deep breath.

"I am thankful to see it all again!" he said.

She waited, while leaning heavily on her arm he scanned the whole fair
landscape with a look of eager love and longing. She saw that he was
very tired and exhausted, and wondered what he had been doing with
himself in his days of absence from her care, but she had too much
delicacy and feeling for him to ask him any questions. And she was glad
when a cheery "Hillo!" echoed over the hill and Angus appeared, striding
across the grass and waving his cap in quite a jubilant fashion. As soon
as he saw them plainly he exchanged his stride for a run and came up to
them in a couple of minutes.

"Why, David!" he exclaimed. "How are you, old boy? Welcome back! So Mary
is right as usual! She said she was sure you would be home to-day!"

Helmsley could not speak. He merely returned the pressure of Reay's
warm, strong hand with all the friendly fervour of which he was capable.
A glance from Mary's eyes warned Angus that the old man was sorely
tired--and he at once offered him his arm.

"Lean on me, David," he said. "Strong as bonnie Mary is, I'm just a bit
stronger. We'll be across the brae in no time! Charlie's at home keeping
house!"

He laughed, and Helmsley smiled.

"Poor wee Charlie!" he said. "Did he miss me?"

"That he did!" answered Mary. "He's been quite lonesome, and not
contented at all with only me. Every morning and every night he went
into your room looking for you, and whined so pitifully at not finding
you that I had quite a trouble to comfort him."

"More tender-hearted than many a human so-called 'friend'!" murmured
Helmsley.

"Why yes, of course!" said Reay. "There's nothing more faithful on earth
than a faithful dog--except"--and he smiled--"a faithful husband!"

Mary laughed.

"Or a faithful wife--which?" she playfully demanded. "How does the old
rhyme go--

'A wife, a dog, and a walnut tree,
The more you beat 'em, the better they be!'

Are you going to try that system when we are married, Angus?"

She laughed again, and without waiting for an answer, ran on a little in
front, in order to be first across the natural bridge which separated
them from the opposite side of the "coombe," and from the spot where the
big chestnut-tree waved its fan-like green leaves and plumes of pinky
white blossom over her garden gate. Another few steps made easily with
the support of Reay's strong arm, and Helmsle