nner, and so was spared the necessity of telling what her
business with John had been.

Greatly to the surprise of Angus Dhu and all the neighbours, in due time
John McDonald brought his team into the widow Macivor's field. Many
were the prophecies brought by Dan to Hamish and Shenac as to the little
likelihood there was of his doing the work to the satisfaction of all
concerned.

"It will serve you right too, Shenac," said the indignant Dan. "To
think of a girl like you fancying you could make a bargain with a man
like John Firinn!"

"Is it Angus Dhu that is concerned, and the Camerons?" asked Shenac.
"It's a pity they shouldn't be satisfied. But if the work is done to
please the mother and Hamish and me, they'll need to content themselves,
I doubt, Dannie, my lad."

"Johnnie Cameron said they were just going to call a bee together and do
it up in a day or two; and then it would have been done right, and you
would have been saved three weeks' spinning besides."

"We're obliged to the Camerons all the same," said Shenac a little
sharply. "But if it had needed six weeks' spinning instead of three, it
would please me better to do it than to trouble the Camerons or anybody.
Why should we need help more than other folk?" she added impatiently.
"I'm ashamed of you, Dan, with your bees."

"Well, I'll tell them what you say, and you'll not be troubled with
their offers again, I can tell you," said Dan sulkily.

"You'll do nothing of the kind," said Hamish. "Nonsense, Dan, my lad;
Shenac is right, and she's wrong too. She's right in thinking the less
help we need the better; but she should not speak as though she did not
thank the neighbours for their wishing to help us."

"Oh, I'm very thankful," said Shenac, dropping a mocking courtesy to
Dan. "But I'm not half so thankful for their help as I am for the
chance to spin John Firinn's wool. And Dan can tell the Camerons what
he likes. I'm not caring; only don't let us hear any more of their bees
and their prophecies."

Lightly as Shenac spoke of the spinning of the wool, it was no light
work to do. For her mother was not pleased that she had undertaken it
without her knowledge and consent, and fretted, and cast difficulties in
the way, till Shenac, more harassed and unhappy than she had ever been
before, offered to break the bargain and send back the wool. Her mother
did not insist on this, however, and Shenac span on in the midst of her
murmurings. Then H