Shenac, he says our Allister
beguiled Evan, or he never would have left home. He looked black when
he said it. He was angry."

Shenac's eyes blazed again.

"Our Allister unsettled--he that went away for our father's sake, and
for us all! Our Allister to beguile Evan, that wild lad! And you sat
and heard him say it, Hamish!"

"What else could I do?" said Hamish bitterly.

"And my mother?" said Shenac.

"She could only cry, and say that Allister had always been a good son to
her and to my father, and a dear brother to us all."

There was a long pause. Shenac never removed her eyes from the men, who
were gradually drawing nearer and nearer, as one after another of the
great cedar rails was laid on the foundation of logs and stones already
prepared for them along the field; and anger gathered in her heart and
showed itself in her face as she gazed. Hamish had turned quite away
from the fence and from his sister, towards the creek where his brothers
were still shouting at their play. But he was not thinking of his
brothers; he did not see them, indeed. He made an effort to keep back
the tears, which, in spite of all he could do, would flow. If Shenac
had spoken to him, they must have gushed out; but he had time to force
them back before Shenac turned away with an angry gesture.

"It's of no use, Shenac," he said then. "There's reason in what Angus
Dhu says. We will have to give up the farm."

"Hamish, that shall never be done!" said Shenac. "It would break my
mother's heart."

"It seems broken already," said Hamish hoarsely. "And it is easy to say
the land must be kept. But what can we do with it? Who is to work it?"

"You and I and the little lads," cried Shenac. "There is no fear. God
will help us," she added reverently--"the widow and orphan's God.
Hamish, don't you mind?"

Hamish had no voice with which to answer for a moment; but in a little
while he said with some difficulty,--

"It is easy for _you_ to say what you will do, Shenac--you who are
strong and well; but look at me! I am not getting stronger, as we
always hoped. What could I do at the plough? I had better go to some
town, as Angus Dhu advised my mother, and learn to make shoes."

"Oh, but he's fine at making plans, that Angus Dhu," said Shenac
scornfully. "But we'll need to tell him that we're for none of his
help. Hamish," she added, suddenly stooping down over him, "do you
think any plan made to separate you and me wil