c, as she turned to her,
offering to take the baby.

"Yes; I let my sister go home too soon, and what with one thing and
another, I am nearly as bad as ever again." And she pressed her hand on
her breast as she spoke.

A few more words told the state of the case, and in a little time the
pain was relieved by a warm application, and the weary woman lay down to
rest. Then there was some porridge made for the baby. Unsuitable food
it seemed, but the little creature ate it hungrily, and was soon asleep.
Then the kettle was boiled, and the poor woman surprised herself and
delighted Shenac by drinking a cup of tea and eating a bit of toasted
bread with relish. Then her hands and face were bathed, and her cap
straightened, and she declared herself to be much better, as indeed it
was easy to see she was. Then Shenac cleared the dinner-things away and
swept the hearth, the husband and wife looking on.

When all this was done, Shenac did not think it needed so much courage
to make her proposal about the change of work. Mrs McDonald looked
anxiously at her husband, who had listened without speaking.

"I think I could spin it to please you," said Shenac. "My mother is
pleased with ours, though she did not like the big wheel at first; and
you can speak to weaver McLean. I don't think he has had much trouble
with the weaving. I would do my best."

"Could you come here and do it?" asked John. "Because, if you could, it
would be worth while doing the ploughing just to see you round, let
alone the wool."

Shenac shook her head. She was quite too much in earnest to notice the
implied compliment.

"No; that would be impossible. I could not be away from home. My
mother could not spare me. She is not so strong as she used to be. But
I would soon do it at home. Our work is mostly over now. Our land does
much the best with the fall wheat, and the wheat is our main
dependence."

"I'm rather behind with my own work," began John; "and I heard something
said about the Camerons doing your field, with some help."

"Oh, a bee," said Shenac. "But that is just what I will not have. I
don't want to seem ungrateful. All the neighbours have been very kind,"
she added humbly. "But now that Allister is not coming home, we must
carry on the place by ourselves, or give it up. We must not be
expecting too much from our neighbours, or they will tire of us. And I
don't want a bee; though everybody has been very kind to us in ou