〃Oh；　I　am　sure　she　would　be　very　glad！　　She　has　never　been　outside
  of　the　city；　and　I　want　her　to　learn　all　she　can　of　the　country　and
  the　woods。　　It　is　positively　painful　to　see　the　ignorance　of　these
  city　children　in　regard　to　all　living　thingsbeasts　and　birds　and
  plants。　　Why；　many　of　them　couldn't　tell　a　beech　from　a　basswood。〃
  〃Oh；　mother！〃　protested　Hughie；　aghast　at　such　ignorance。
  〃Yes；　indeed；　it　is　dreadful；　I　assure　you；〃　said　his　mother；
  smiling。　　〃Why；　I　know　a　grown…up　woman　who　didn't　know　till　after
  she　was　married　the　difference　between　a　spruce　and　a　pine。〃
  〃But　you　know　them　all　now；〃　said　Hughie；　a　little　anxious　for　his
  mother's　reputation。
  〃Yes；　indeed；〃　said　his　mother；　proudly；　〃every　one；　I　think；　at
  least　when　the　leaves　are　out。　　So　I　want　Maimie　to　learn　all　she
  can。〃
  Ranald　did　not　like　the　idea　any　too　well；　but　after　they　had　gone
  his　thoughts　kept　turning　to　the　proposed　visit　of　Mrs。　Murray　and
  her　niece。
  〃Maimie；〃　said　Ranald　to　himself。　　〃So　that　is　her　name。〃　　It　had　a
  musical　sound；　and　was　different　from　the　names　of　the　girls　he
  knewBetsy　and　Kirsty　and　Jessie　and　Marget　and　Jinny。　　It　was
  finer　somehow　than　these；　and　seemed　to　suit　better　a　city　girl。
  He　wondered　if　she　would　be　nice；　but　he　decided　that　doubtless　she
  would　be　〃proud。〃　　To　be　〃proud〃　was　the　unpardonable　sin　with　the
  Glengarry　boy。　　The　boy　or　girl　convicted　of　this　crime　earned　the
  contempt　of　all　self…respecting　people。　　On　the　whole；　Ranald　was
  sorry　she　was　coming。　　Even　in　school　he　was　shy　with　the　girls；
  and　kept　away　from　them。　　They　were　always　giggling　and　blushing
  and　making　one　feel　queer；　and　they　never　meant　what　they　said。　　He
  had　no　doubt　Maimie　would　be　like　the　rest；　and　perhaps　a　little
  worse。　　Of　course；　being　Mrs。　Murray's　niece；　she　might　be
  something　like　her。　　Still；　that　could　hardly　be。　　No　girl　could
  ever　be　like　the　minister's　wife。　　He　resolved　he　would　turn　Maimie
  over　to　Don。　　He　remembered；　with　great　relief；　that　Don　did　not
  mind　girls；　indeed；　he　suspected　Don　rather　enjoyed　playing　the
  〃forfeit〃　games　at　school　with　them；　in　which　the　penalties　were
  paid　in　kisses。　　How　often　had　he　shuddered　and　admired　from　a
  distance；　while　Don　and　the　others　played　those　daring　games！　　Yes；
  Don　would　do　the　honors　for　Maimie。　　Perhaps　Don　would　even　venture
  to　play　〃forfeits〃　with　her。　　Ranald　felt　his　face　grow　hot　at　this
  thought。　　Then；　with　sudden　self…detection；　he　cried；　angrily；
  aloud：　　〃I　don't　care；　let　him；　he　may　for　all　I　care。〃
  〃Who　may　what？〃　cried　a　voice　behind　him。　　It　was　Don　himself。
  〃Nothing；〃　said　Ranald；　blushing　shamefacedly。
  〃Why；　what　are　you　mad　about？〃　asked　Don；　noticing　his　flushed
  face。
  〃Who　is　mad？〃　said　Ranald。　　〃I　am　not　mad　whatever。〃
  〃Well；　you　look　mighty　like　it；〃　said　Don。　　〃You　look　mad　enough　to
  fight。〃
  But　Ranald；　ignoring　him；　simply　said；　〃We　will　need　to　be
  gathering　the　sap　this　evening；　for　the　troughs　will　be　full。〃
  〃Huh…huh；〃　said　Don。　　〃I　guess　we　can　carry　all　there　is　to…day；
  but　we　will　have　to　get　the　colt　to…morrow。　　Got　the　spiles　ready？〃
  〃Enough　for　to…day；〃　said　Ranald；　wondering　how　he　could　tell　Don
  of　the　proposed　visit　of　Mrs。　Murray　and　her　niece。　　Taking　each　a
  bundle　of　spiles　and　an　ax；　the　boys　set　out　for　the　part　of　the
  sugar　bush　as　yet　untapped；　and　began　their　work。
  〃The　minister's　wife　and　Hughie　were　here　just　now；〃　began　Ranald。
  〃Huh…huh；　I　met　them　down　the　road。　　Hughie　said　he　was　coming　day
  after　to…morrow。〃
  〃Did　Mrs。　Murray　tell　you〃
  〃Tell　me　what？〃
  〃Did　she　tell　you　she　would　like　to　see　a　sugaring…off？〃
  〃No；　they　didn't　stop　long　enough　to　tell　me　anything。　　Hughie
  shouted　at　me　as　they　passed。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　Ranald；　speaking　slowly　and　with　difficulty；　〃she
  wanted　bad　to　see　the　sugar…making；　and　I　asked　her　to　come。〃
  〃You　did；　eh？　　I　wonder　at　you。〃
  〃And　she　wanted　to　bring　her　niece；　andandI　let　her；〃　said
  Ranald。
  〃Her　niece！　　Jee…roo…sa…LEM！〃　cried　Don。　　〃Do　you　know　who　her
  niece　is？〃
  〃Not　I；〃　said　Ranald；　looking　rather　alarmed。
  〃Well；　she　is　the　daughter　of　the　big　lumberman；　St。　Clair；　and　she
  is　a　great　swell。〃
  Ranald　stood　speechless。
  〃That　does　beat　all；〃　pursued　Don；　〃and　you　asked　her　to　our　camp？〃
  Then　Ranald　grew　angry。　　〃And　why　not？〃　he　said；　defiantly。　　〃What
  is　wrong　about　that？〃
  〃O；　nothing　much；〃　laughed　Don；　〃if　I　had　done　it；　but　for　you；
  Ranald！　　Why；　what　will　you　do　with　that　swell　young　lady　from　the
  city？〃
  〃I　will　just　do　nothing；〃　said　Ranald。　　〃There　will　be　you　and　Mrs。
  Murray；　and〃
  〃Oh；　I　say；〃　burst　in　Don；　〃that's　bully！　　Let's　ask　some　of　the
  boys；　andyour　aunt；　andmy　mother；　andsome　of　the　girls。〃
  〃Oh；　shucks！〃　said　Ranald；　angrily。　　〃You　just　want　Marget　Aird。〃
  〃You　get　out！〃　cried　Don；　indignantly；　〃Marget　Aird！〃　　Then；　after
  a　pause；　he　added；　〃All　right；　I　don't　want　anybody　else。　　I'll
  look　after　Mrs。　Murray；　and　you　and　Maimie　can　do　what　you　like。〃
  This　combination　sounded　so　terrible　to　Ranald　that　he　surrendered
  at　once；　and　it　was　arranged　that　there　should　be　a　grand　sugaring…
  off；　and　that　others　besides　the　minister's　wife　and　her　niece
  should　be　invited。
  But　Mrs。　Murray　had　noticed　the　falling　of　Ranald's　face　at　the
  mention　of　Maimie's　visit　to　the　camp；　and　feeling　that　she　had
  taken　him　at　a　disadvantage；　she　determined　that　she　would　the　very
  next　day　put　herself　right　with　him。　　She　was　eager　to　follow　up
  the　advantage　she　had　gained　the　day　before　in　establishing　terms
  of　friendship　with　Ranald；　for　her　heart　went　out　to　the　boy；　in
  whose　deep；　passionate　nature　she　saw　vast　possibilities　for　good
  or　ill。　　On　her　return　from　her　daily　visit　to　Macdonald　Dubh；　she
  took　the　camp　road；　and　had　the　good　fortune　to　find　Ranald　alone；
  〃rigging　up〃　his　kettles　preparatory　to　the　boiling。　　But　she　had
  no　time　for　kettles　to…day；　and　she　went　straight　to　her　business。
  〃I　came　to　see　you；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　after　she　had　shaken　hands
  with　him；　〃about　our　sugaring…off。　　I've　been　thinking　that　it
  would　perhaps　be　better　to　have　no　strangers；　but　just　old　friends；
  you　and　Don　and　Hughie　and　me。〃
  Ranald　at　once　caught　her　meaning；　but　found　himself　strangely
  unwilling　to　be　extricated　from　his　predicament。
  〃I　mean；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　frankly；　〃we　might　enjoy　it　better
  without　my　niece；　and　so；　perhaps；　we　could　have　the　sugaring　when
  I　come　to　bring　Hughie　home　on　Friday。　　Maimie　does　not　come　till
  Saturday。〃
  Her　frankness　disarmed　Ranald　of　his　reserve。　　〃I　know　well　what
  you　mean；〃　he　said；　without　his　usual　awkwardness；　〃but　I　do　not
  mind　now　at　all　having　your　niece　come；　and　Don　is　going　to　have　a
  party。〃　　The　quiet；　grave　tone　was　that　of　a　man；　and　Mrs。　Murray
  looked　at　the　boy　with　new　eyes。　　She　did　not　know　that　it　was　her
  own　frank　confidence　that　had　won　like　confidence　from　him。
  〃How　old　are　you；　Ranald？〃　she　said；　in　her　wonder。
  〃I　will　be　going　on　eighteen。〃
  〃You　will　soon　be　a　man；　Ranald。〃　　Ranald　remained　silent；　and　she
  went　on　earnestly：　　〃A　strong；　good；　brave　man；　Ranald。〃
  The　blood　rushed　to　the　boy's　face　with　a　sudden　flood；　but　still
  he　stood　silent。
  〃I'm　going　to　give　you　Hughie　for　two　days；〃　she　continued；　in　the
  same　earnest　voice；　and　leaning　down　over　her　pony's　neck　toward
  him：　　〃I　want　him　to　know　strong　and　manly　boys。　　He　is　very　fond
  of　you；　Ranald。　　He　thinks　you　are　better　than　any　man　in　the
  world。〃　　She　paused；　her　lips　parting　in　a　smile　that　made　Ranald's
  heart　beat　quick。　　Then　she　went　on　with　a　shy　hesitancy：　　〃Ranald；
  I　know　the　boys　sometimes　drop　words　they　should　not　and　tell
  stories　unfit　to　hear〃；　the　blood　was　beginning　to　show　in　her
  cheek；　〃and　I　would　not　like　my　little　boy〃　　Her　voice　broke
  suddenly；　but　recovering　quickly　she　went　on　in　grave；　sweet　tones：
  〃I　trust　him　to　you；　Ranald；　for　this　time　and　afterward。　　He　looks
  up　to　you。　　I　want　him　to　be　a　good；　brave　man；　and　to　keep　his
  heart　pure。〃　　Ranald　could　not　speak；　but　he　looked　steadily　into
  Mrs。　Murray's　eyes　as　he　took　the　hand　she　offered；　and　she　knew　he
  was　pledging　himself　to　her。
  〃You'll　come　for　him　to…morrow；〃　she　said；　as　she　turned　away。　　By
  this　time　Ranald　had　found　his　voice。
  〃Yes；　ma'am；〃　he　replied。　　〃And　I　will　take　good　care　of　him。〃
  Once　more　Mrs。　Murray　found　herself　looking　at　Ranald　as　if　seeing
  him　for　the　first　time。　　He　had　the　solemn　voice　and　manner　of　a
  man　making　oath　of　allegiance；　and　she　rode　away　with　her　heart　at
  rest　concerning　her　little　boy。　　With　Ranald；　at　least；　he　would　be
  safe。
  *　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　*
  Those　two　days　had　been　for　Hughie　long　and　weary；　but　at　last　the
  great　day　came　for　him；　as　all　great　days　will　come　for　those　who
  can　wait。　　Ranald　appeared　at　the　manse　before　the　breakfast　was
  well　begun；　and　Hughie；　with　the　unconscious　egoism　of　childhood；
  was　for　rushing　off　without　thought　of　preparation　for　himself　or
  of　farewell　for　those　left　behind。　　Indeed；　he　was　for　leaving　his
  porridge　untasted；　declaring　he　〃wasn't　a　bit　hungry；〃　but　his
  mother　brought　him　to　his　senses。
  〃No　breakfast；　no　sugar　bush　to…day；　Hughie；〃　she　said；　〃we　c