y might not seem
to have much meaning or weight; but, falling from those dear dying lips,
they came with power to the heart of Dan. And this was but the
beginning. The veil being once lifted from Dan's heart, he did not
shrink again from his brother's gentle and faithful ministrations.
There were few days after that in which the brothers were not left alone
together for a little while. Though the days were not many, in Dan's
life they counted more than all the years that had gone before.

The harvest was drawing to a close before the last day came. The dawn
was breaking after a long and weary night More than once, during the
slowly-passing hours, Shenac had turned to the door to call her
brothers; but thoughts of the long laborious day restrained her, and now
a little respite had come. Hamish slumbered peacefully. It was not
very long, however, before his eyes opened on his sister's face with a
smile.

"It is drawing nearer, my Shenac," he murmured.

Her answering smile was tearful, but very bright.

"Yes, it is drawing nearer."

"And you do not grudge me to my rest, dear?"

"No; even at my worst time I did not do that. For myself, the way
looked weary; but at the very worst time I was glad for you."

The brightness of her tearful smile never changed till his weary eyes
closed again. The day passed slowly. They thought him dying in the
afternoon, and they all gathered in his room; but he revived, and when
night came he was left alone with Shenac. There were others up in the
house all night, and now and then a face looked in at the open door; but
they slept, or seemed to sleep--Shenac in the great chair, with her head
laid on her brother's pillow and her bright hair mingling with his. On
her cheek, pale with watching and with awe of the presence that
overshadowed them, one thin, white hand was laid. The compressed lips
and dimmed eyes of Hamish never failed to smile as in answer to his
touch she murmured some tender word--not her own, but _His_ whose words
alone can avail when it comes to a time like this.

As the day dawned they gathered again--first Dan, then Allister and
Shenac Dhu, then Flora and the little lads; for the change which cannot
be mistaken had come to the dying face, and they waited in silence for
the King's messenger. He slumbered peacefully with a smile upon his
lips, but his eyes opened at last and fastened on his sister's face.
She had never moved through the coming in of them a