not be afraid. But I must go--I
think it will be right to go--whether Hamish thinks so or not. Hamish
can do without me; but how shall I ever do without him?"

She sat looking into the fire, trying to think how she should begin, and
started a little when Hamish said,--

"Well, Shenac, what is it? You have something to tell me."

"I am going to ask you something," said his sister gravely. "Do you
think it is wrong for me to wish to go away from home--for a while, I
mean?"

"From home? Why? When? Where? It all depends on these things," said
Hamish, laughing a little.

"Hamish, what should I do?" asked his sister earnestly. "I cannot do
much good by staying here, can I? Ought I to stay? Don't tell me that
I ought not to go away--that you have never thought of such a thing."

"No, I cannot tell you that, Shenac; for I have thought a great deal
about it; and I believe you ought to go--though what we are to do
without you is more than I can tell."

So there were to be no objections from Hamish. She said to herself that
was good, and she was glad; but her heart sank a little too, and she was
silent.

"You have been thinking about us and caring for us all so long, it is
time we were thinking what is good for you," said Hamish.

"You are laughing at me, Hamish."

"No, I am not. I think it would be very nice for us if you would be
content to stay at home and do for us all as you have been doing; but it
would not be best for you."

"It would be best for me if it were needful," said Shenac eagerly; "but,
Hamish, it is not much that I could do here now. I mean Allister and
Shenac Dhu will care for you all; and just what I could do with my hands
is not much. Anybody could do it."

"And you think you could do higher work somewhere else?"

"Not higher work, Hamish. But I think there must be work somewhere that
I could do better--more successfully--than I can do on the farm. Even
when I was doing most, before Allister came, Dan could go before me when
he cared to do it. And he did it so easily, forgetting it all the
moment it was out of his hand; while I vexed myself and grew weary
often, with planning and thinking of what was done and what was still to
do. I often feel now it was a wild thing in us to think of carrying on
the farm by ourselves. If I had known all, I would hardly have been so
bold with Angus Dhu that day."

"But it all ended well. You did not undertake more than you carried
throug