Marjory and her affairs went out of my head, and a horrible anxiety and dread came into my heart instead, as I set off homewards, fast as car and boat and rail could carry me; and that was not very fast as far as the two former were concerned: but God was merciful, and only smiles and happy tears met me at the end of my hurried journey.

CHAPTER V.

"A MAN'S A MAN FOR A' THAT."

You must positively come back and finish your visit to Lough Shellach," wrote kind Mrs. Keith a month. or two later. "You want change of scene and mountain breezes more than ever after your fright and anxiety. Now that everything at home is right again, why not come North for two or three weeks? November is lovely with us, and it is quite worth while taking the trouble of the long journey for a month of Highland air. Come. Marjory Fraser wants to see you very much, she is looking so well and so happy."

Now if Mrs. Keith had only put that sentence about Miss Fraser first instead of last, I would not even have waited to finish her note, but would have packed up my boxes and started by the Night Mail for the North directly; as it was, I fancied the

letter was all in the same kind hospitable strain, and I did not turn over the page, but put it aside to be answered later. When its turn came in a few days and I read it carefully through, great was my dismay at having dawdled, and I hastily wrote a cordial 'acceptance of her invitation, and followed my letter the very next day.

It is worth the pain and sorrow of going away from a beloved place to feel the great joy of returning. Let us hope that this merciful and blessed rule may be carried out in a higher, better state of existence; and that in proportion to the anguish of farewells Here, will be the bliss of greetings There.

In spite of darkening days and colder nights I found an inner brightness, a heart-warmth at Lough Shellach, which made those chill October skies seem glowing and beautiful as the August ones had been. There were richer tints, too, on moor and hill, and the deep orange purples of the sunset sky were not less lovely than the fainter opal tints of summer. Outside the house, 'great Nature had mellowed the beauty of earth and sky: inside, she had asserted the sovereign right she claims over human hearts, however they may be fenced in by a hedge of conventionalities.

What but a touch from that power which poets call Love, and philosophers Nature, had brought the light of youth back to Marjory Fraser's sweet fresh face, or made Mr. Munro so pleasant to all beholders?

At first it was all a confusion of happy gabble. The very youngest of the Keith children had some little story to tell on a subject which they did not however dare to allude to before Miss Fraser's radiant eyes. I could hardly believe the evidence of my senses, especially of my ears, when they conveyed to my bewildered brain the intelligence that Malcolm Munro was going to marry Marjory Fraser, and that shortly.

In my heart I felt it was happy news, and yet-I am almost ashamed to confess it—old prejudices and the force of educational habits made a parting struggle to be heard before they vanished; swept away, I trust for ever, by the great strong wave of nobler convictions. The little whisper said, “She is a lady and he is not a gentleman." Even at that moment I laughed, "Malcolm Munro not a gentleman; who then is one? Does a cultivated mind, chivalrous feelings, a reverence for all that is true and good not constitute a gentleman?"

Fortunately my little mental battle had been

fought and won before Marjory came to claim my congratulations, and I was able to give them with my whole heart. As soon as this rather formal part of the proceedings was over, I settled myself, woman-wise, comfortably down for a good chat and demanded to be told all about it; then, with the least possible touch of malice, I added, “You know, Marjory, the last time we talked about this you were hating him a good deal. Don't you remember?"

Oh no, I was not hating him at all when I told you that long story. I was afraid you thought so, but I did not quite see my way to undeceiving you just then. I couldn't, you know, because—well because I thought it was he who was hating me.

"He must be a very amiable man not to detest you, Miss Fraser," I replied, "for by your own showing you have been extremely disagreeable to him; but I do not want to exchange desultory remarks with you on the subject. It seems to have come all right now, which is a good deal more than you deserve, and I want to know exactly what happened next after you got well."

It must be a very youthful and inexperienced person who does not perceive that Marjory was likely to love me all the better for my seeming harshness to her. So long as you don't abuse the absent lover, you