less heartbreaking, "Macrimmon's Lament." In a
pause in Macpherson's wailing notes there floated down over the Glen the
sound of the pipes up at the big House.

"Bless my soul! whisht, man!" cried Betsy Macpherson to her spouse.
"Listen yonder!" For the first time in months they heard the sound of
Allan's pipes.

"It is himself," whispered the women to each other, and waited. Down the
long avenue of ragged firs, and down the highroad, came young Mr. Allan,
in all the gallant splendour of his piper's garb, and the tune he played
was no lament, but the blood-stirring "Gathering of the Gordons." As
he came opposite to Macpherson's cottage he gave the signal for the old
piper, and down the highroad stepped the two of them together, till they
passed beyond the farthest cottage. Then back again they swung, and this
time it was to the "Cock of the North," that their tartans swayed and
their bonnets nodded. Thus, not with woe and lamentation, but with good
hope and gallant cheer, young Mr. Allan took his leave of the Glen Cuagh
Oir.

CHAPTER VIII

WILL HE COME BACK?

It was the custom in Doctor Dunn's household that, immediately after
dinner, his youngest son would spend half an hour in the study with his
father. It was a time for confidences. During this half hour father and
son met as nearly as possible on equal terms, discussing, as friends
might, the events of the day or the plans for the morrow, school work
or athletics, the latest book or the newest joke; and sometimes the talk
turned upon the reading at evening prayers. This night the story had
been one of rare beauty and of absorbing interest, the story, viz., of
that idyllic scene on the shore of Tiberias where the erring disciple
was fully restored to his place in the ranks of the faithful, as he had
been restored, some weeks before, to his place in the confidence of his
Master.

"That was a fine story, Rob?" began Doctor Dunn.

"That it was," said Rob gravely. "It was fine for Peter to get back
again."

"Just so," replied his father. "You see, when a man once turns his back
on his best Friend, he is never right till he gets back again."

"Yes, I know," said Rob gravely. For a time he sat with a shadow of
sadness and anxiety on his young face. "It is terrible!" he exclaimed.

"Terrible?" inquired the Doctor. "Oh, yes, you mean Peter's fall? Yes,
that was a terrible thing--to be untrue to our Master and faithless to
our best Friend."

"But he did