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shyness and modesty。〃
〃Oh； Ranald's modesty won't disable him；〃 said the minister。 〃For
my part； I think he is a daring young rascal； and indeed； if there
is any mischief going in the countryside you may be sure Ranald is
not far away。〃
〃Oh； papa； I don't think Ranald is a BAD boy；〃 said his wife；
almost pleadingly。
〃Bad？ I'm sure I don't know what you call it。 Who let off the dam
last year so that the saw…mill could not run for a week？ Who
abused poor Duncie MacBain so that he was carried home groaning？〃
〃Duncie MacBain！〃 exclaimed his wife； contemptuously； 〃great； big；
soft lump； that he is。 Why； he's a man； as big as ever he'll be。〃
〃Who broke the Little Church windows till there wasn't a pane
left？〃 pursued the minister； unheeding his wife's interruption。
〃It wasn't Ranald that broke the church windows； papa；〃 piped
Hughie from above。
〃How do you know； sir？ Who did it； then？〃 demanded his father。
〃It wasn't Ranald； anyway；〃 said Hughie； stoutly。
〃Who was it； then？ Tell me that；〃 said his father again。
〃Hughie； go to your room and stay there； as I told you；〃 said his
mother； fearing an investigation into the window…breaking episode；
of which Hughie had made full confession to her as his own
particular achievement； in revenge for a broken window in the new
church。
〃I think；〃 continued Mr。 Murray； as if closing the discussion；
〃you'll find that your Ranald is not the modest； shy； gentle young
man you think him to be； but a particularly bold young rascal。〃
〃Poor Ranald；〃 sighed his wife； 〃he has no mother； and his father
has just let him grow up wild。〃
〃Aye； that's true enough；〃 assented her husband； passing into his
study。
But he could have adopted no better means of awakening Maimie's
interest in Ranald than by the recital of his various escapades。
Women love good men； but are interested in men whose goodness is
more or less impaired。 So Maimie was determined that she would
know more of Ranald； and hence took every opportunity of encouraging
Hughie to sing the praises of his hero and recount his many
adventures。 She was glad； too； that her aunt had fixed the
sugaring…off for a time when she could be present。 But neither at
church on Sunday nor during the week that followed did she catch
sight of his face； and though Hughie came in with excited reports
now and then of having seen or heard of Ranald； Maimie had to
content herself with these； and； indeed； were it not that the
invitation had already been given； and the day fixed for her visit
to the camp； the chances are that Maimie's acquaintance with Ranald
would have ended where it began； in which case both had been saved
many bitter days。
CHAPTER VIII
THE SUGARING…OFF
The sugar time is； in many ways； the best of all the year。 It is
the time of crisp mornings； when 〃the crust bears；〃 and the boys go
crunching over all the fields and through the woods； the time； too；
of sunny noons and chilly nights。 Winter is still near； but he has
lost most of his grip； and all his terror。 For the earth has heard
the call of spring from afar； and knows that soon she will be seen；
dancing her shy dances； in the sunny spaces of the leafless woods。
Then； by and by； from all the open fields the snow is driven back
into the fence corners； and lies there in soiled and sullen heaps。
In the woods it still lies deep； but there is everywhere the tinkle
of running water； and it is not long till the brown leaf carpet
begins to show in patches through the white。 Then； overhead； the
buds begin to swell and thrill with the new life； and when it is
broad noon； all through the woods a thousand voices pass the glad
word that winter's day is gone and that all living things are free。
But when night draws up over the treetops； and the shadows steal
down the forest aisles； the jubilant voices die down and a chill
fear creeps over all the gleeful； swelling buds that they have been
too sure and too happy； and all the more if； from the northeast；
there sweeps down； as often happens； a stinging storm of sleet and
snow； winter's last savage slap。 But what matters that？ The very
next day； when the bright； warm rays trickle down through the
interlacing branches； bathing the buds and twigs and limbs and
trunks and flooding all the woods； the world grows surer of its new
joy。 And so； in alternating hope and fear； the days and nights go
by； till an evening falls when the air is languid and a soft rain
comes up from the south； falling all night long over the buds and
trees like warm； loving fingers。 Then the buds break for very joy；
and timid green things push up through the leaf…mold； and from the
swamps the little frogs begin to pipe； at first in solo； but soon
in exultant chorus； till the whole moist night is vocal； and then
every one knows that the sugar time is over； and troughs and spiles
are gathered up； and with sap…barrels and kettles； are stored in
the back shed for another year。
But no rain came before the night fixed for the sugaring…off。 It
was a perfect sugar day； warm； bright； and still； following a night
of sharp frost。 The long sunny afternoon was deepening into
twilight when the Camerons drove up to the sugar…camp in their big
sleigh； bringing with them the manse party。 Ranald and Don； with
Aunt Kirsty； were there to receive them。 It was one of those rare
evenings of the early Canadian spring。 The bare woods were filled
with the tangled rays of light from the setting sun。 Here and
there a hillside facing the east lay in shadow that grew black
where the balsams and cedars stood in clumps。 But everywhere else
the light fell sweet and silent about the bare trunks； filling the
long avenues under the arching maple limbs with a yellow haze。
In front of the shanty the kettles hung over the fire on a long
pole which stood in an upright crutch at either end。 Under the big
kettle the fire was roaring high； for the fresh sap needed much
boiling before the syrup and taffy could come。 But under the
little kettle the fire burned low； for that must not be hurried。
Over the fire and the kettles Ranald presided； black； grimy； and
silent； and to Don fell the duty of doing the honors of the camp；
and right worthily did he do his part。 He greeted his mother with
reverence； cuffed his young brother； kissed his little sister
Jennie； tossing her high； and welcomed with warm heartiness Mrs。
Murray and her niece。 The Airds had not yet come； but all the rest
were there。 The Finlaysons and the McKerachers； Dan Campbell's
boys； and their sister Betsy； whom every one called 〃Betsy Dan；〃
redheaded； freckled； and irrepressible； the McGregors； and a dozen
or more of the wildest youngsters that could be found in all the
Indian Lands。 Depositing their baskets in the shanty； for they had
no thought of fasting； they crowded about the fire。
〃Attention！〃 cried Don； who had a 〃gift of the gab；〃 as his mother
said。 〃Ladies and gentlemen； the program for this evening is as
follows： games； tea； and taffy； in the order mentioned。 In the
first； all MUST take part； in the second； all MAY take part； but in
the third； none NEED take part。〃
After the laughter and the chorus of 〃Ohs〃 had subsided； Don
proceeded： 〃The captains for the evening are； Elizabeth Campbell；
better known as 'Betsy Dan；' and John Finlayson； familiar to us all
as 'Johnnie the Widow；' two young people of excellent character；
and I believe； slightly known to each other。〃
Again a shout went up from the company； but Betsy Dan； who cared
not at all for Don's banter； contented herself with pushing out her
lower lip at him with scorn； in that indescribable manner natural
to girls； but to boys impossible。
Then the choosing began。 Betsy Dan； claiming first choice by
virtue of her sex； immediately called out； 〃Ranald Macdonald。〃
But Ranald shook his head。 〃I cannot leave the fire；〃 he said；
blushing； 〃take Don there。〃
But Betsy demurred。 〃I don't want Don；〃 she cried。 〃Come on；
Ranald； the fire will do quite well。〃 Betsy； as indeed did most of
the school…girls； adored Ranald in her secret heart； though she
scorned to show it。
But Ranald still refused； till Don said； 〃It is too bad； Betsy； but
you'll have to take me。〃
〃Oh； come on； then！〃 laughed Betsy； 〃you will be better than
nobody。〃
Then it was Johnnie the Widow's choice： 〃Maimie St。 Clair。〃
Maimie hesitated and looked at her aunt； who said； 〃Yes； go； my
dear； if you would like。〃
〃Marget Aird！〃 cried Betsy； spying Marget and her brothers coming
down the road。 〃Come along； Marget； you are on my sideon Don's
side； I mean。〃 At which poor Marget； a tall； fair girl； with sweet
face and shy manner； blushed furiously； but； after greeting the
minister's wife and the rest of the older people； she took her
place beside Don。
The choosing went on till every one present was taken； not even
Aunt Kirsty being allowed to remain neutral in the coming games。
For an hour the sports went on。 Racing； jumping； bear； London
bridge； crack the whip； and lastly； forfeits。
Meantime Ranald superintended the sap…boiling； keeping on the
opposite side of the fire from the ladies； and answering in
monosyllables any que