rson for Miss Carmichael was the Squire, and
happily she sat at his left.

"Marjorie, lassie," said Uncle John, "you're no lookin' weel."

"That's not very complimentary, uncle; but I am quite well."

"Yon block o' a Lamb has been wearin' ye, I'm thinkin'."

"Not at all, uncle; his gifts and graces are not adequate to that."

"Did Coristine tell ye o' that adverteesment in the Barrie paper?"

"Yes."

"Did he say he had dune onything aboot it?"

"Yes, he said he had written to the Edinburgh lawyer and to other people
about it."

"That was unco gude o' the lad, Marjorie."

"Yes, it was very kind."

"What garred the laddie gang awa before the time, lassie?"

"How should I know, uncle?"

"Wha sud ken were it no you, Marjorie, my pet?"

"I am not in Mr. Coristine's confidence."

"I'se warrant ye, Marjorie, he's just bitin's nails to the quick at yon
Mrs. Swamp's that's he no here the nicht."

"Oh nonsense, uncle, why should he be so foolish? If he wanted to stay,
there was no one to hinder him."

"Weel, weel, lassie, we'll hear frae him sometime aboot yon neist o' kin
business. Aiblins, ye'll be a braw leddy wi' a gran' fortune yet, and
turn up your bonnie bit nose at puir lawyer chappies."

"I don't want to turn up my nose at Mr. Coristine, uncle. I think it
was very splendid of him to fight for you as he did; but I knew nothing
about that when he said good-bye, and I wouldn't shake hands with him."

The Squire put up his hand and stroked his niece's hair. "Puir lassie!"
he said, "it's a gran' peety, but ye're no feelin' half as bad as he is
the noo, gin I ken the lad, and I think I dae."

It was ten when Mr. Bangs brought home the colonel's horse, and Rufus
rattled the missing waggon and team into the stable yard. The latter
joyfully saluted his sisters, shook hands with Timotheus, and
courteously responded to the greeting of Maguffin. Mr. Bangs, declining
any solid refreshment, entered the office, where, besides the Squire,
Mr. Errol and the veteran were established. The picnic ladies were tired
and had gone to rest, and the colonel was relating the events of the day
to the wakeful dominie. Mr. Bangs gave his company an account of the
safe lodgment of Rawdon and Davis, and mentioned incidentally that he
had seen Mr. Coristine alight from the train at Toronto and go up town.
He also cautioned the Squire against divulging the secret of the exhumed
box of money, if he wished to save it for Matilda Nag