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would treat De Lacy and that idiotic Sims； I won't bring him！〃 And
with that he flung out of the room。
But Harry changed his mind； for next Sunday evening as the young
ladies with De Lacy and his friend were about to sit down to supper
in their private parlor； Harry walked in with Ranald； and announced
in triumph： 〃The man from Glengarry！〃 Maimie looked at him in
dismay； and indeed she well might； for Ranald was dressed in his
most gorgeous shanty array； with red flannel shirt and silk
handkerchief； and trousers tucked into his boots。 Sims gazed at
him as if he were an apparition。 It was Kate who first broke the
silence。
〃We are delighted to see you；〃 she cried； going forward to Ranald
with hands outstretched； 〃you are become quite a hero in this
town。〃
〃Quite； I assure you；〃 said the lieutenant； in a languid voice； but
shaking Ranald heartily by the hand。
Then Maimie came forward and greeted him with ceremonious politeness
and introduced him to Mr。 Sims； who continued to gaze at the
shantyman's attire with amused astonishment。
The supper was not a success； Ranald sat silent and solemn； eating
little and smiling not at all； although Mr。 Sims executed his very
best jokes。 Maimie was nervous and visibly distressed； and at the
earliest possible moment broke up the supper party and engaged in
conversation with the lieutenant and his witty friend； leaving
Harry and Kate to entertain Ranald。 But in spite of all they could
do a solemn silence would now and then overtake the company； till
at length Maimie grew desperate； and turning to Ranald； said：
〃What are you thinking of？ You are looking very serious？〃
〃He is 'thinking of home and mother；'〃 quoted Mr。 Sims； in a thin；
piping voice； following his quotation with a silly giggle。
Kate flushed indignantly。 〃I am quite sure his thoughts will bear
telling；〃 she said。
〃I am sure they would；〃 said Maimie； not knowing what to say。
〃What were they； RanMr。 Macdonald？〃
〃I was thinking of you；〃 said Ranald； gravely； looking straight at
her。
〃How lovely；〃 murmured the lieutenant。
〃And of your aunt； Mrs。 Murray； and of what they would be doing
this night〃
〃And what would that be？〃 said Kate； coming to the relief of her
friend。 But Ranald was silent。
〃I know；〃 cried Harry。 〃Let's see； it is ten o'clock； they will
all be sitting in the manse dining…room before the big fire； or；
no； they will be in the parlor where the piano is； and John 'Aleck'
will be there； and they will be singing〃； and he went on to
describe his last Sabbath evening； two years before； in the
Glengarry manse。 As he began to picture his aunt and her work；
his enthusiasm carried him away； and made him eloquent。
〃I tell you；〃 he concluded； 〃she's a rare woman； and she has a
hundred men there ready to die for her； eh； Ranald？〃
〃Yes；〃 said Ranald； and his deep voice vibrated with intense
feeling。 〃They would just die for her； and why not？ She is a
great woman and a good。〃 His dark face was transformed； and his
eyes glowed with an inner light。
In the silence that followed Kate went to the harmonium and began
to play softly。 Ranald stood up as to go； but suddenly changed his
mind； and went over and stood beside her。
〃You sing； don't you？〃 said Kate； as she played softly。
〃You ought to just hear him；〃 said Harry。
〃Oh； what does he sing？〃
〃I only sing the psalm tunes in church；〃 said Ranald； 〃and a few
hymns。〃
〃Ye gods！〃 ejaculated the lieutenant to Maimie； 〃psalms and hymns；
and how the fellow knocked those Frenchmen about！〃
〃Sing something； Kate； won't you？〃 said Maimie； and Kate； without a
word began the beautiful air from Mendelssohn's St。 Paul：
〃But the Lord is mindful of His own；〃
singing it with a power of expression marvellous in so young a
girl。 Then； without further request； she glided into the lovely
aria； 〃O Rest in the Lord。〃 It was all new and wonderful to
Ranald。 He did not dream that such majesty and sweetness could be
expressed in music。 He sat silent with eyes looking far away； and
face alight with the joy that filled his soul。
〃Oh； thanks； very much；〃 murmured the lieutenant； when Kate had
finished。 〃Lovely thing that aria； don't you know？〃
〃Very nice；〃 echoed Mr。 Sims； 〃and so beautifully done； too。〃
Ranald looked from one to the other in indignant surprise； and then
turning away from them to Kate； said； in a tone almost of command：
〃Sing it again。〃
〃I'll sing something else；〃 she said。 〃Did you ever hear〃
〃No； I never heard anything at all like that；〃 interrupted Ranald。
〃Sing some more like the last。〃
The deep feeling showing in his face and in his tone touched Kate。
〃How would this do？〃 she replied。 〃It is a little high for me； but
I'll try。〃
She played a few introductory chords； and then began that sweetest
bit of the greatest of all the oratorios 〃He shall Feed His Flock。〃
And from that passed into the soul…moving 〃He Was Despised〃 from
the same noble work。 The music suited the range and quality of her
voice perfectly； and she sang with her heart thrilling in response
to the passionate feeling in the dark eyes fixed upon her face。
She had never sung to any one who listened as Ranald now listened
to her。 She forgot the others。 She was singing for him； and he
was compelling her to her best。 She was conscious of a subtle
sense of mastery overpowering her； and with a strange delight she
yielded herself to that commanding influence； but as she sang she
began to realize that he was thinking not of her； but of her song；
and soon she； too； was thinking of it。 She knew that his eyes were
filled with the vision of 〃The Man of Sorrows〃 of whom she sang；
and before she was aware； the pathos of that lonely and despised
life； set forth in the noble words of the ancient prophet； was
pouring forth in the great Master's music。
When the song was ended； no one spoke for a time； and even Mr。 Sims
was silent。 Then the lieutenant came over to the harmonium； and
leaning toward Kate； said； in an earnest voice； unusual with him；
〃Thank you Miss Raymond。 That was truly great。〃
〃Great indeed；〃 said Harry； with enthusiasm。 〃I never heard you
sing like that before； Kate。〃
But Ranald sat silent； finding no words in which to express the
thoughts and feelings her singing had aroused in him。
There is that in noble music which forbids unreality； rebukes
frivolity into silence； subdues ignoble passions； soothes the
heart's sorrow； and summons to the soul high and holy thoughts。 It
was difficult to begin the conversation； the trivial themes of the
earlier part of the evening seemed foreign to the mood that had
fallen upon the company。 At length Mr。 Sims ventured to remark；
with a giggle： 〃It's awfully fine； don't you know； but a trifle
funereal。 Makes one think of graves and that sort of thing。 Very
nice； of course；〃 he added； apologetically； to Kate。 Ranald turned
and regarded the little man for some moments in silence； and then；
with unutterable scorn； exclaimed： 〃Nice！ man； it's wonderful；
wonderful to me whatever！ Makes me think of all the great things I
ever saw。〃
〃What things？〃 Kate ventured to say。
For a few moments Ranald paused； and then replied： 〃It makes me
think of the big pine trees waving and wailing over me at night；
and the big river rolling down with the moonlight on itandother
things。〃
〃What other things； Ranald；〃 persisted Kate。
But Ranald shook his head and sat silent for some time。 Then he
rose abruptly。
〃I will be going now；〃 he said。
〃You will come again soon； Ranald；〃 said Maimie； coming toward him
with a look on her face that reminded him of the days in the
Glengarry manse。 She had forgotten all about his red shirt and
silk handkerchief。 As Ranald caught that look a great joy leaped
into his eyes for a moment； then faded into a gaze of perplexity。
〃Yes； do come；〃 added Kate。
〃Will you sing again？〃 he asked； bluntly。
〃Yes； indeed；〃 she replied； with a slight blush； 〃if you want me
to。〃
〃I will come。 When？ To…morrow night？〃
〃Yes； certainly； to…morrow night；〃 said Kate； blushing deeply now；
for she noticed the slight smile on Harry's face； and the glance
that passed between Mr。 Sims and the lieutenant。 Then Ranald said
good night。
〃I have never had such pleasure in my life；〃 he said； holding her
hand a moment； and looking into her eyes that sparkled with a happy
light。 〃That is；〃 he added； with a swift glance at Maimie； 〃from
music or things like that。〃
Kate caught the glance； and the happy light faded from her eyes。
〃Good night；〃 said Ranald； offering his hand to Maimie。 〃I am glad
I came now。 It makes me think of the last night at the manse；
although I am always thinking of it；〃 he added； simply； with a
touch of sadness in his voice。 Maimie's face grew hot with blushes。
〃Yes；〃 she answered； hurriedly。 〃Dear Aunt Murray！〃
He stood a moment or two as if about to speak； while Maimie
waited in an agony of fear； not knowing what to expect in this
extraordinary young man。 Then he turned abruptly away； and with a
good night to De Lacy and a nod to Mr。 Sims； strode from the room。
〃Great Caesar's ghost！〃 exclaimed the lieute