question to ask.
I should have begun with it. Will you answer me simply and truly, as
Hamish would have wished his sister to answer his friend?"

"I will try," said she, looking up with a peculiar expression that
always came at the name of Hamish. He bent down and whispered it.

"I have always thought you wise and good, more than any one, and--"

There was another pause.

"It is a pleasant thing to hear that you have always thought me wise and
good; but you have not answered my question, Shenac."

"Yes, I do care for you, Mr Stewart. It would make me happy to share
your work; but I am not fit for it--at least, not yet."

In his joy and simplicity he thought all the rest would be easy; and, to
tell the truth, so did Allister and his wife, who ought to have known
our Shenac better. When Shenac Dhu kissed her, and whispered something
about Christmas, and how they could ever bear to lose her so soon,
Shenac spoke. She was going away before Christmas, and they could spare
her very well; but she was not going with Mr Stewart for two years at
the very least Allister had told her there was something laid up for her
against the time she should need it, and it would be far better that she
should use it to furnish her mind than to furnish her house; and she was
going to school.

"To school!" repeated Mrs Allister in dismay. "Does Mr Stewart know?"

"No; you must tell him, Shenac--you and Allister. I am not fit to be
his wife. You will not have people saying--saying things. You must see
it, Shenac. I know so little; and it makes me quite wretched to think
of going among strangers, I am so shy and awkward. I am not fit to be a
minister's wife," she added with a little laugh that was half a sob.
Shenac Dhu laughed too, and clapped her hands.

"A minister's wife, no less! Our Shenac!" And then she added gravely,
"I think you are right, Shenac. I know you are good enough and dear
enough to be Mr Stewart's wife, though he were the prince of that name,
if there be such a person. But there are little things that folk can
only learn by seeing them in others, and I think you are quite right;
but you will not get Mr Stewart to think so."

"If it is right he will come to think so; and you must be on my side,
Shenac--you and Allister, too."

Shenac Dhu promised, but in her heart she thought that her sister would
not be suffered to have her own way in this matter. She was mistaken,
however. Shenac was firm without