ess difficulty. Even if Dan had
been as good and helpful as he ought to have been, it would not have
made much difference.

Shenac would not confess it to herself, much less to any one else, but
the work of the summer had been a little too much for her strength and
spirits. Her courage revived with a little rest and the sight of her
brother. He did not come back quite a new man, but he was a great deal
better and stronger than he had been for years; and the delight of
seeing him go about free from pain chased away the half of Shenac's
troubles. Even Dan's freaks did not seem so serious to her now, and she
made up her mind to say as little as possible to Hamish about the
vexations of the summer, and to think of nothing unpleasant now that she
had him at home again.

But unpleasant things are not so easily set aside out of one's life, and
Shenac's vexations with Dan were not over. He was more industrious than
usual about this time, and worked at cutting and bringing up the
winter's wood with a zeal that made her doubly glad that she had said
little about their summer's troubles. He talked less and did more than
usual; and Hamish bade his mother and Shenac notice how quiet and manly
he was growing, when he startled them all by a declaration that he was
going with the Camerons and some other lads to the lumbering, far up the
Grand River.

"I'm not going to the school. I would not, even if Mr Stewart were
coming back; and I am not needed at home, now that you are better,
Hamish. You can do what is needed in the winter, so much of the wood is
up; and, at any rate, I am going."

Hamish entreated him to stay at home for his mother's sake, or to choose
some less dangerous occupation, if he must go away.

"Dangerous! Nonsense, Hamish! Why should it be more dangerous to me
than to the rest? I cannot be a child all my life to please my mother
and Shenac."

"No; that is true," said Hamish; "but neither can you be a man all at
once to please yourself. You are neither old enough nor strong enough
for such work as is done in the woods, whatever you may think."

"There are younger lads going to the woods than I am," muttered Dan
sulkily.

"Yes; but they are not going to do men's work nor get men's wages. If
you are wise, you will bide at home."

But all that Hamish could get from Dan was a promise that he would not
go, as he had first intended, without his mother's leave. This was not
easy to get, for the fate