u that you don't know our Shenac. Whether it is
your coming home, or my mother's not being well, that has changed her, I
can't say. Or maybe it is something else," added Dan thoughtfully. He
had an idea that others in the parish were changed as well as Shenac.
"She's changed, anyway. She's as mild as summer now. But if you had
seen her when Angus Dhu was making this fence--Elder McMillan was here;"
and Dan went off into a long account of the matter, and of other matters
of which Allister had as yet heard nothing.

"Angus Dhu don't seem to bear malice," said he, when Dan paused. "He
has a great respect for Shenac."

"Oh yes, of course; so have they all." And Dan launched into a
succession of stories to prove that Shenac had done wonders in the way
of winning respect. For though he had sometimes been contrary enough,
and even now thought it necessary to remind his sister that, being a
girl, she must be content to occupy but a humble place in the world,
Shenac had no more stanch friend and supporter than he. Indeed, Dan was
one who, though restless and jealous of his rights when he thought they
were to be interfered with, yielded willingly to a strong hand and
rightful authority; and he had greatly improved already under the
management of his elder brother, of whom he was not a little proud.

"Yes," continued he, "I think they would have scattered us to the four
winds if it had not been for Shenac. She always said that you would
come home, and that we must manage to keep together till then. Man, you
should have seen her when Angus Dhu said to my mother that he doubted
that you had gone for your own pleasure, and would stay for the same.
She could not show him the door, because my mother was there, and he is
an old man; but she turned her back upon him and walked out like a
queen, and would not come in again while he stayed, though Shenac Dhu
cried, and begged her not to mind."

"I suppose Shenac Dhu was of the same mind--that I was not to be
trusted," said Allister.

Dan shrugged his shoulders.

"Oh, as to that, I don't know. She's only a girl, and it does not
matter what she thinks. But how it vexed her to be told what our Shenac
said about her father."

"But the two Shenacs were never unfriendly?" said Allister
incredulously.

"No," said Dan; "I don't think they ever were. Partly because Shenac
yonder did not believe all I said, I suppose, and partly because she was
vexed herself with her father.