need the courage of both to make the future look
otherwise than dark to their mother, and she thought Hamish was going to
fail her. She was growing very eager; but she knew that the quick, hot
words that might carry Hamish with her would have no force with her
mother, and she put a strong restraint on herself, and said quietly,--

"We can manage through the summer, mother. The wheat was sown in the
fall, you know, and the elder said we were to have a bee next week for
the oats, and we can do the rest ourselves--Hamish and Dan and I--till
Allister comes home."

"It would be a hard fight for you all," said the mother despondingly.

"You should say Dan and you and little Hugh and Colin," said Hamish
bitterly. "They could help far more than I can, unless I am much better
than I am now." And then he dropped his head on his hands again.

Shenac rose suddenly and placed herself between him and her mother, and
then she said quietly,--

"And, mother, the elder thinks we can do it, or he wouldn't have spoken
about the bee. Nobody can think it right that Angus Dhu should take our
father's land from us; and the elder said nothing about Hugh; and Dan
would never bide with Angus Dhu and work our father's land for him.
Never! never! Mother, we must try what we can do till Allister comes
home."

There was not much said after that. There was no decision in words as
to their plans, but Shenac knew they were to make a trial of the
summer's work--she and her brothers--and she was content.

There were but two rooms downstairs in the little log house, and the
mother and Flora slept in the one in which they had been sitting. So
when Hamish came back from looking whether the gates and barn-doors were
safely shut, he found Shenac, who had much to say to him, waiting for
him outside.

"Hamish," she said eagerly, "what ails you? Why did you not speak to my
mother and tell her what we ought to do? Hamish," she added, putting
out her hand to detain him as he tried to pass her--"Hamish, speak to
me. What ails you to-night, Hamish?"

"What right have I to tell my mother--I, who can do nothing?"

He shook off her detaining hand as if he was angry; but there was a
sound of tears in his voice, and Shenac's momentary feeling of offence
was gone. She would not be shaken off, and putting her arms round his
neck she held him fast. He did not try to free himself after the first
moment, but he turned away his face.

"Hamish," she re