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went along the concession road； increasing her speed at every
stride till she wheeled in at the gate。 Then Ranald shook the
lines over her back and called to her。 Magnificently Lisette
responded； and swept up to the door with such splendid dash that
the whole household greeted her with waving applause。 As the colt
came to a stand； Maimie stepped out from the buckboard； and turning
toward Ranald； said in a low； hurried voice： 〃O； Ranald； that was
splendid； and I am so happy； and you will be sure to come？〃
〃I will come；〃 said Ranald； looking down into the blue eyes with a
look so long and steady and so full of passionate feeling that
Maimie knew he would keep his word。
Then farewells were said； and Ranald turned away； Harry and Mrs。
Murray watching him from the door till he disappeared over the
church hill。
〃Well； that's the finest chap I ever saw；〃 said Harry； with
emphasis。 〃And what a body he has！ He would make a great half…
back。〃
〃Poor Ranald！ I hope he will make a great and good man；〃 said his
aunt； with a ring of sadness in her voice。
〃Why poor； auntie？〃
〃I'm sure I do not know；〃 she said； with a very uncertain smile
playing about her mouth。 Then she went upstairs and found Maimie
sitting at the window overlooking the church hill； and once more
she knew how golden is silence。 So she set to work to pack
Maimie's trunk for her。
〃It will be a very early start； Maimie；〃 she said； 〃and so we will
get everything ready to…night。〃
〃Yes； auntie；〃 said Maimie； going to her and putting her arms about
her。 〃How happy I have been； and how good you have been to me！〃
〃And how glad I have been to have you！〃 said her aunt。
〃Oh； I will never forget you！ You have taught me so much that I
never knew before。 I see everything so differently。 It seems easy
to be good here； and； oh！ I wish you were not so far away from me；
auntie。 I am afraidafraid〃
The tears could no longer be denied。 She put her head in her
aunt's lap and sobbed out her heart's overflow。 For an hour they
sat by the open trunk； forgetting all about the packing； while her
aunt talked to Maimie as no one had ever talked to her before； and
often； through the long years of suffering that followed； the words
of that evening came to Maimie to lighten and to comfort an hour of
fear and sorrow。 Mrs。 Murray was of those to whom it is given to
speak words that will not die with time； but will live； for that
they fall from lips touched with the fire of God。
Before they had finished their talk Harry came in； and then Mrs。
Murray told them about their mother； of her beauty and her
brightness and her goodness； but mostly of her goodness。
〃She was a dear； dear girl；〃 said their aunt； 〃and her goodness was
of the kind that makes one think of a fresh spring morning； so
bright； so sweet； and pure。 And she was beautiful； too。 You will
be like her； Maimie；〃 and； after a pause； she added； softly； 〃And；
most of all； she loved her Saviour； and that was the secret of both
her beauty and her goodness。〃
〃Auntie；〃 said Harry； suddenly； 〃don't you think you could come to
us for a visit？ It would do fatherI mean it would be such a
great thing for father； and for me； too； for us all。〃
Mrs。 Murray thought of her home and all its ties； and then said；
smiling： 〃I am afraid； Harry； that could hardly be。 Besides； my
dear boy； there is One who can always be with you； and no one can
take His place。〃
〃All the same； I wish you could come；〃 said Harry。 〃When I am here
I feel like doing something with my life； but at home I only think
of having fun。〃
〃But； Harry；〃 said his aunt； 〃life is a very sacred and very
precious thing； and at all costs； you must make it worthy of Him
who gave it to you。〃
Next morning； when Harry was saying 〃Farewell〃 to his aunt； she put
her arms round him； and said： 〃Your mother would have wished you
to be a noble man； and you must not disappoint her。〃
〃I will try； auntie；〃 he said； and could say no more。
For the next few weeks the minister and his wife were both busy and
anxious。 For more than eight years they had labored with their
people without much sign of result。 Week after week the minister
poured into his sermons the strength of his heart and mind； and
then gave them to his people with all the fervor of his nature。
Week after week his wife； in her women's meetings and in her Bible
class； lavished freely upon them the splendid riches of her
intellectual and spiritual powers； and together in the homes of the
people they wrought and taught。 At times it seemed to the minister
that they were spending their strength for naught； and at such
times he bitterly grudged； not his own toils； but those of his
wife。 None knew better than he how well fitted she was； both by
the native endowments of her mind and by the graces of her
character； to fill the highest sphere； and he sometimes grew
impatient that she should spend herself without stint and reap no
adequate reward。
These were his thoughts as he lay on his couch； on the evening of
the last Sabbath in the old church； after a day's work more than
usually exhausting。 The new church was to be opened the following
week。 For months it had been the burden of their prayers that at
the dedication of their church； which had been built and paid for
at the cost of much thought and toil； there should be some 〃signal
mark of the divine acceptance。〃 No wonder the minister was more
than usually depressed to…night。
〃There is not much sign of movement among the dry bones；〃 he said
to his wife。 〃They are as dry and as dead as ever。〃
His wife was silent for some time； for she； too； had her moments of
doubt and fear； but she said： 〃I think there is some sign。 The
people were certainly much impressed this morning； and the Bible
class was very large； and they were very attentive。〃
〃So they are every day；〃 said the minister； rather bitterly。 〃But
what does it amount to？ There is not a sign of one of these young
people 'coming forward。' Just think； only one young man a member
of the church； and he hasn't got much spunk in him。 And many of
the older men remain as hard as the nether millstone。〃
〃I really think；〃 said his wife； 〃that a number of the young people
would 'come forward' if some one would make a beginning。 They are
all very shy。〃
〃So you always say；〃 said her husband； with a touch of impatience；
〃but there is no shyness in other things； in their frolics and
their fightings。 I am sure this last outrageous business is enough
to break one's heart。〃
〃What do you mean？〃 said his wife。
〃Oh； I suppose you will hear soon enough； so I need not try to keep
it from you。 It was Long John Cameron told me。 It is strange that
Hughie has not heard。 Indeed； perhaps he has； but since his
beloved Ranald is involved； he is keeping it quiet。〃
〃What is it？〃 said his wife； anxiously。
〃Oh； nothing less than a regular pitched battle between the
McGregors and the McRaes of the Sixteenth； and all on Ranald's
account； too； I believe。〃
Mrs。 Murray sat in silent and bitter disappointment。 She had
expected much from Ranald。 Her husband went on with his tale。
〃It seems there was an old quarrel between young Aleck McRae and
Ranald； over what I cannot find out； and young Angus McGregor； who
will do anything for a Macdonald； must needs take Ranald's part；
with the result that that hot…headed young fire…eater Aleck McRae
must challenge the whole clan McGregor。 So it was arranged； on
Sunday morning； too； mind you； two weeks ago； after the service；
that six of the best of each side should meet and settle the
business。 Of course Ranald was bound to be into it； and begged and
pleaded with the McGregors that he should be one of the six； and I
hear it was by Yankee's advice that his request was granted。 That
godless fellow； it seems； has been giving Ranald daily lessons with
the boxing…gloves； and to some purpose； too； as the fight proved。
It seems that young Aleck McRae； who is a terrible fighter； and
must be forty pounds heavier than Ranald； was； by Ranald's especial
desire and by Yankee's arrangement； pitted against the boy； and by
the time the fight was over； Ranald； although beaten and bruised to
a 'bloody pulp；' as Long John said； had Aleck thoroughly whipped。
And nobody knows what would have happened； so fierce was the young
villain； had not Peter McGregor and Macdonald Bhain appeared upon
the scene。 It appears Aleck had been saying something about Maimie；
Long John did not know what it was； but Ranald was determined to
finish Aleck up there and then。 It must have been a disgusting and
terrible sight； but Macdonald Bhain apparently settled them in a
hurry； and what is more； made them all shake hands and promise to
drop the quarrel thenceforth。 I fancy Ranald's handling of young
Aleck McRae did more to bring about the settlement than anything
else。 What a lot of savages they are！〃 continued the minister。 〃It
really does not seem much use to preach to them。〃
〃We must not say that； my dear；〃 said his wife； but her tone was
none too hopeful。 〃I must confess I am disappointed in Ranald。
Well；〃 she continued； 〃we can only wait and trust。〃
Fro