letter; and then sat for an instant looking at
Laurie's--at the neat Oxford-looking hand, the artistic appearance of
the paragraphs, and all the rest of it.

She would have liked to keep it--to put it with half a dozen others
she had from him; but it seemed better not.

Then as she tore it up into careful strips, her conscience smote her
again, shrewdly; and she drew out the top left-hand drawer of the
table at which she sat.

There they were, a little pile of them, neat and orderly. She looked
at them an instant; then she took them out, turned them quickly to see
if all were there, and then, gathering up the strips of the one she
had received that morning, went over to the wood fire and dropped them
in.

It was better so, she said to herself.

* * * * *

The days went pleasantly enough after that. She would not for an
instant allow to herself that any of their smoothness arose from the
fact that this boy would be here again in a few weeks. On the
contrary, it was because she had detected a weakness in his regard,
she told herself, and had resolutely stamped on it, that she was in so
serene a peace. She arranged about the shooting--that is to say, she
informed the acting keeper that Master Laurie would be home for
Christmas as usual--all in an unemotional manner, and went about her
various affairs without effort.

She found Mrs. Baxter just a little trying now and then. That lady
had come to the conclusion that Laurie was unhappy in his
religion--certainly references to it had dropped out of his
letters--and that Mr. Rymer must set it right.

"The Vicar must dine here at least twice while Laurie is here," she
observed at breakfast one morning. "He has a great influence with
young men."

Maggie reflected upon a remark or two, extremely unjust, made by
Laurie with regard to the clergyman.

"Do you think--do you think he understands Laurie," she said.

"He has known him for fifteen years," remarked Mrs. Baxter.

"Perhaps it's Laurie that doesn't understand him then," said Maggie
tranquilly.

"I daresay."

"And--and what do you think Mr. Rymer will be able to do?" asked the
girl.

"Just settle the boy.... I don't think Laurie's very happy. Not that I
would willingly disturb his mind again; I don't mean that, my dear. I
quite understand that your religion is just the one for certain
temperaments, and Laurie's is one of them; but a few helpful words
sometimes--" Mrs. Baxter