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of the English poets； could talk in conversation…book French； and
could dash off most of the notes of a few waltzes and marches from
the best composers； her piece de resistance； however； being 〃La
Priere d'une Vierge。〃 She carried with her from school a portfolio
of crayons of apparently very ancient and very battered castles； and
water…colors of landscapes； where the water was quite as solid as
the land。 True； she was quite unable to keep her own small
accounts； and when her father chanced to ask her one day to do for
him a simple addition； he was amazed to find that only after the
third attempt did she get it right； but； in the eyes of her aunt；
these were quite unimportant deficiencies； and for young ladies she
was not sure but that the keeping of accounts and the adding of
figures were almost vulgar accomplishments。 Her father thought
otherwise； but he was a busy man； and besides； he shrank from
entering into a region strange to him； but where his sister moved
with assured tread。 He contented himself with gratifying his
daughter's fancies and indulging her in every way allowed him by her
system of training and education。 The main marvel in the result was
that the girl did not grow more selfish； superficial； and ignorant
than she did。 Something in her blood helped her； but more； it was
her aunt's touch upon her life。 For every week a letter came from
the country manse； bringing with it some of the sweet simplicity of
the country and something like a breath of heaven。
She was nearing her fifteenth birthday； and though almost every
letter brought an invitation to visit the manse in the backwoods；
it was only when the girl's pale cheek and languid air awakened her
father's anxiety that she was allowed to accept the invitation to
spend some weeks in the country。
* * * * *
When Ranald and Hughie drove up to the manse on Saturday evening in
the jumper the whole household rushed forth to see them。 They were
worth seeing。 Burned black with the sun and the March winds； they
would have easily passed for young Indians。 Hughie's clothes were
a melancholy and fluttering ruin； and while Ranald's stout homespun
smock and trousers had successfully defied the bush； his dark face
and unkempt hair； his rough dress and heavy shanty boots； made him
appear； to Maimie's eyes； an uncouth； if not pitiable； object。
〃Oh； mother！〃 cried Hughie； throwing himself upon her； 〃I'm home
again； and we've had a splendid time； and we made heaps of sugar；
and I've brought you a whole lot。〃 He drew out of his pockets
three or four cakes of maple sugar。 〃There is one for each；〃 he
said； handing them to his mother。
〃Here； Hughie；〃 she replied； 〃speak to your cousin Maimie。〃
Hughie went up shyly to his cousin and offered a grimy hand。
Maimie； looking at the ragged little figure； could hardly hide her
disgust as she took the dirty； sticky little hand very gingerly in
her fingers。 But Hughie was determined to do his duty to the full；
even though Ranald was present； and shaking his cousin's hand with
great heartiness； he held up his face to be kissed。 He was much
surprised； and not a little relieved； when Maimie refused to notice
his offer and turned to look at Ranald。
She found him scanning her with a straight； searching look； as if
seeking to discover of what sort she was。 She felt he had noticed
her shrinking from Hughie； and was annoyed to find herself blushing
under his keen gaze。 But when Mrs。 Murray presented Ranald to her
niece； it was his turn to blush and feel awkward； as he came
forward with a triangular sort of movement and offered his hand；
saying； with an access of his Highland accent； 〃It is a fine day；
ma'am。〃 It required all Maimie's good manners to keep back the
laugh that fluttered upon her lips。
Slight as it was； Ranald noticed the smile； and turning from her
abruptly to Mrs。 Murray； said： 〃We were thinking that Friday would
be a good day for the sugaring…off； if that will do you。〃
〃Quite well； Ranald；〃 said the minister's wife； 〃and it is very
good of you to have us。〃
She； too； had noted Maimie's smile； and seeing the dark flush on
Ranald's cheek； she knew well what it meant。
〃Come and sit down a little； Ranald；〃 she said； kindly； 〃I have got
some books here for you and Don to read。〃
But Ranald would not sit； nor would he wait a moment。 〃Thank you；
ma'am；〃 he said； 〃but I will need to be going。〃
〃Wait； Ranald； a moment；〃 cried Mrs。 Murray。 She ran into the next
room； and in a few moments returned with two or three books and
some magazines。 〃These；〃 she said； handing him the books； 〃are
some of Walter Scott's。 They will be good for week…days； and
these；〃 giving him the magazines； 〃you can read after church on
Sabbath。〃
The boy's eyes lighted up as he thanked Mrs。 Murray； and he shook
hands with her very warmly。 Then； with a bow to the company； and
without looking at Maimie again； he left the room； with Hughie
following at his heels。 In a short time Hughie came back full of
enthusiastic praise of his hero。
〃Oh； mother！〃 he cried； 〃he is awful smart。 He can just do anything。
He can make a splendid bed of balsam brush； and porridge； and
pancakes； andandandeverything。〃
〃A bed of balsam brush and porridge！ What a wonderful boy he must
be； Hughie；〃 said Maimie； teasing him。 〃But isn't he just a little
queer？〃
〃He's not a bit queer；〃 said Hughie； stoutly。 〃He is the best；
best； best boy in all the world。〃
〃Indeed！ how extraordinary！〃 said Maimie； 〃you wouldn't think so to
look at him。〃
〃I think he is just splendid；〃 said Hughie； 〃don't you； mother？〃
〃Indeed； he is fery brown whatever；〃 mocked Maimie； mimicking
Ranald's Highland tongue； a trick at which she was very clever；
〃andnot just fery clean。〃
〃You're just a mean； mean； red…headed snip！〃 cried Hughie； in a
rage； 〃and I don't like you one bit。〃
But Maimie was proud of her golden hair； so Hughie's shot fell
harmless。
〃And when will you be going to the sugaring…off； Mistress Murray？〃
went on Maimie； mimicking Ranald so cleverly that in spite of
herself Mrs。 Murray smiled。
It was his mother's smile that perfected Hughie's fury。 Without a
word of threat or warning； he seized a dipper of water and threw it
over Maimie； soaking her pretty ribbons and collar； and was
promptly sent upstairs to repent。
〃Poor Hughie！〃 said his mother； after he had disappeared； 〃Ranald
is his hero； and he cannot bear any criticism of him。〃
〃He doesn't look much of a hero； auntie；〃 said Maimie； drying her
face and curls。
〃Very few heroes do；〃 said her aunt； quietly。 〃Ranald has noble
qualities； but he has had very few advantages。〃
Then Mrs。 Murray told her niece how Ranald had put himself between
her and the pursuing wolves。 Maimie's blue eyes were wide with
horror。
〃But； auntie；〃 she cried； 〃why in the world do you go to such
places？〃
〃What places； Maimie？〃 said the minister； who had come into the
room。
〃Why； those awful places where the wolves are。〃
〃Indeed； you may ask why；〃 said the minister； gravely。 He had
heard the story from his wife the night before。 〃But it would need
a man to be on guard day and night to keep your aunt from 'those
places。'〃
〃Yes； and your uncle； too；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； shaking her head at
her husband。 〃You see； Maimie； we live in 'those places'； and
after all； they are as safe as any。 We are in good keeping。〃
〃And was Hughie out all night with those two boys in those woods；
auntie？〃
〃Oh； there was no danger。 The wolves will not come near a fire；
and the boys have their dogs and guns；〃 said Mrs。 Murray； 〃besides；
Ranald is to be trusted。〃
〃Trusted？〃 said the minister； 〃indeed； I would not trust him too
far。 He is just wild enough； like his father before him。〃
〃Oh； papa； you don't know Ranald；〃 said his wife； warmly； 〃nor his
father either； for that matter。 I never did till this last week。
They have kept aloof from everything； and really〃
〃And whose fault is that？〃 interrupted the minister。 〃Why should
they keep aloof from the means of grace？ They are a godless lot；
that's what they are。〃 The minister's indignation was rising。
〃But； my dear；〃 persisted Mrs。 Murray； 〃I believe if they had a
chance〃
〃Chance！〃 exclaimed the minister； 〃what more chance do they want？
Have they not all that other people have？ Macdonald Dubh is rarely
seen at the services on the Lord's day； and as for Ranald； he comes
and goes at his own sweet will。〃
〃Let us hope；〃 said his wife； gently； 〃they will improve。 I
believe Ranald would come to Bible class were he not so shy。〃
〃Shy！〃 laughed the minister； scornfully； 〃he is not too shy to
stand up on the table before a hundred men after a logging and
dance the Highland fling； and beautifully he does it； too；〃 he
added。
〃But for all that；〃 said his wife； 〃he is very shy。〃
〃I don't like shy people；〃 said Maimie； 〃they are so awkward and
dreadful to do with。〃
〃Well；〃 said her aunt； quietly； 〃I rather like people who are not
too sure of themselves； and I think all the more of Ranald for his
shyness and modesty。〃
〃Oh； Ranald's modesty won't disable him；〃 said the minist