of　the　English　poets；　could　talk　in　conversation…book　French；　and
  could　dash　off　most　of　the　notes　of　a　few　waltzes　and　marches　from
  the　best　composers；　her　piece　de　resistance；　however；　being　〃La
  Priere　d'une　Vierge。〃　　She　carried　with　her　from　school　a　portfolio
  of　crayons　of　apparently　very　ancient　and　very　battered　castles；　and
  water…colors　of　landscapes；　where　the　water　was　quite　as　solid　as
  the　land。　　True；　she　was　quite　unable　to　keep　her　own　small
  accounts；　and　when　her　father　chanced　to　ask　her　one　day　to　do　for
  him　a　simple　addition；　he　was　amazed　to　find　that　only　after　the
  third　attempt　did　she　get　it　right；　but；　in　the　eyes　of　her　aunt；
  these　were　quite　unimportant　deficiencies；　and　for　young　ladies　she
  was　not　sure　but　that　the　keeping　of　accounts　and　the　adding　of
  figures　were　almost　vulgar　accomplishments。　　Her　father　thought
  otherwise；　but　he　was　a　busy　man；　and　besides；　he　shrank　from
  entering　into　a　region　strange　to　him；　but　where　his　sister　moved
  with　assured　tread。　　He　contented　himself　with　gratifying　his
  daughter's　fancies　and　indulging　her　in　every　way　allowed　him　by　her
  system　of　training　and　education。　　The　main　marvel　in　the　result　was
  that　the　girl　did　not　grow　more　selfish；　superficial；　and　ignorant
  than　she　did。　　Something　in　her　blood　helped　her；　but　more；　it　was
  her　aunt's　touch　upon　her　life。　　For　every　week　a　letter　came　from
  the　country　manse；　bringing　with　it　some　of　the　sweet　simplicity　of
  the　country　and　something　like　a　breath　of　heaven。
  She　was　nearing　her　fifteenth　birthday；　and　though　almost　every
  letter　brought　an　invitation　to　visit　the　manse　in　the　backwoods；
  it　was　only　when　the　girl's　pale　cheek　and　languid　air　awakened　her
  father's　anxiety　that　she　was　allowed　to　accept　the　invitation　to
  spend　some　weeks　in　the　country。
  *　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　*　　　　　　　　　*
  When　Ranald　and　Hughie　drove　up　to　the　manse　on　Saturday　evening　in
  the　jumper　the　whole　household　rushed　forth　to　see　them。　　They　were
  worth　seeing。　　Burned　black　with　the　sun　and　the　March　winds；　they
  would　have　easily　passed　for　young　Indians。　　Hughie's　clothes　were
  a　melancholy　and　fluttering　ruin；　and　while　Ranald's　stout　homespun
  smock　and　trousers　had　successfully　defied　the　bush；　his　dark　face
  and　unkempt　hair；　his　rough　dress　and　heavy　shanty　boots；　made　him
  appear；　to　Maimie's　eyes；　an　uncouth；　if　not　pitiable；　object。
  〃Oh；　mother！〃　cried　Hughie；　throwing　himself　upon　her；　〃I'm　home
  again；　and　we've　had　a　splendid　time；　and　we　made　heaps　of　sugar；
  and　I've　brought　you　a　whole　lot。〃　　He　drew　out　of　his　pockets
  three　or　four　cakes　of　maple　sugar。　　〃There　is　one　for　each；〃　he
  said；　handing　them　to　his　mother。
  〃Here；　Hughie；〃　she　replied；　〃speak　to　your　cousin　Maimie。〃
  Hughie　went　up　shyly　to　his　cousin　and　offered　a　grimy　hand。
  Maimie；　looking　at　the　ragged　little　figure；　could　hardly　hide　her
  disgust　as　she　took　the　dirty；　sticky　little　hand　very　gingerly　in
  her　fingers。　　But　Hughie　was　determined　to　do　his　duty　to　the　full；
  even　though　Ranald　was　present；　and　shaking　his　cousin's　hand　with
  great　heartiness；　he　held　up　his　face　to　be　kissed。　　He　was　much
  surprised；　and　not　a　little　relieved；　when　Maimie　refused　to　notice
  his　offer　and　turned　to　look　at　Ranald。
  She　found　him　scanning　her　with　a　straight；　searching　look；　as　if
  seeking　to　discover　of　what　sort　she　was。　　She　felt　he　had　noticed
  her　shrinking　from　Hughie；　and　was　annoyed　to　find　herself　blushing
  under　his　keen　gaze。　　But　when　Mrs。　Murray　presented　Ranald　to　her
  niece；　it　was　his　turn　to　blush　and　feel　awkward；　as　he　came
  forward　with　a　triangular　sort　of　movement　and　offered　his　hand；
  saying；　with　an　access　of　his　Highland　accent；　〃It　is　a　fine　day；
  ma'am。〃　　It　required　all　Maimie's　good　manners　to　keep　back　the
  laugh　that　fluttered　upon　her　lips。
  Slight　as　it　was；　Ranald　noticed　the　smile；　and　turning　from　her
  abruptly　to　Mrs。　Murray；　said：　　〃We　were　thinking　that　Friday　would
  be　a　good　day　for　the　sugaring…off；　if　that　will　do　you。〃
  〃Quite　well；　Ranald；〃　said　the　minister's　wife；　〃and　it　is　very
  good　of　you　to　have　us。〃
  She；　too；　had　noted　Maimie's　smile；　and　seeing　the　dark　flush　on
  Ranald's　cheek；　she　knew　well　what　it　meant。
  〃Come　and　sit　down　a　little；　Ranald；〃　she　said；　kindly；　〃I　have　got
  some　books　here　for　you　and　Don　to　read。〃
  But　Ranald　would　not　sit；　nor　would　he　wait　a　moment。　　〃Thank　you；
  ma'am；〃　he　said；　〃but　I　will　need　to　be　going。〃
  〃Wait；　Ranald；　a　moment；〃　cried　Mrs。　Murray。　　She　ran　into　the　next
  room；　and　in　a　few　moments　returned　with　two　or　three　books　and
  some　magazines。　　〃These；〃　she　said；　handing　him　the　books；　〃are
  some　of　Walter　Scott's。　　They　will　be　good　for　week…days；　and
  these；〃　giving　him　the　magazines；　〃you　can　read　after　church　on
  Sabbath。〃
  The　boy's　eyes　lighted　up　as　he　thanked　Mrs。　Murray；　and　he　shook
  hands　with　her　very　warmly。　　Then；　with　a　bow　to　the　company；　and
  without　looking　at　Maimie　again；　he　left　the　room；　with　Hughie
  following　at　his　heels。　　In　a　short　time　Hughie　came　back　full　of
  enthusiastic　praise　of　his　hero。
  〃Oh；　mother！〃　he　cried；　〃he　is　awful　smart。　　He　can　just　do　anything。
  He　can　make　a　splendid　bed　of　balsam　brush；　and　porridge；　and
  pancakes；　andandandeverything。〃
  〃A　bed　of　balsam　brush　and　porridge！　　What　a　wonderful　boy　he　must
  be；　Hughie；〃　said　Maimie；　teasing　him。　　〃But　isn't　he　just　a　little
  queer？〃
  〃He's　not　a　bit　queer；〃　said　Hughie；　stoutly。　　〃He　is　the　best；
  best；　best　boy　in　all　the　world。〃
  〃Indeed！　how　extraordinary！〃　said　Maimie；　〃you　wouldn't　think　so　to
  look　at　him。〃
  〃I　think　he　is　just　splendid；〃　said　Hughie；　〃don't　you；　mother？〃
  〃Indeed；　he　is　fery　brown　whatever；〃　mocked　Maimie；　mimicking
  Ranald's　Highland　tongue；　a　trick　at　which　she　was　very　clever；
  〃andnot　just　fery　clean。〃
  〃You're　just　a　mean；　mean；　red…headed　snip！〃　cried　Hughie；　in　a
  rage；　〃and　I　don't　like　you　one　bit。〃
  But　Maimie　was　proud　of　her　golden　hair；　so　Hughie's　shot　fell
  harmless。
  〃And　when　will　you　be　going　to　the　sugaring…off；　Mistress　Murray？〃
  went　on　Maimie；　mimicking　Ranald　so　cleverly　that　in　spite　of
  herself　Mrs。　Murray　smiled。
  It　was　his　mother's　smile　that　perfected　Hughie's　fury。　　Without　a
  word　of　threat　or　warning；　he　seized　a　dipper　of　water　and　threw　it
  over　Maimie；　soaking　her　pretty　ribbons　and　collar；　and　was
  promptly　sent　upstairs　to　repent。
  〃Poor　Hughie！〃　said　his　mother；　after　he　had　disappeared；　〃Ranald
  is　his　hero；　and　he　cannot　bear　any　criticism　of　him。〃
  〃He　doesn't　look　much　of　a　hero；　auntie；〃　said　Maimie；　drying　her
  face　and　curls。
  〃Very　few　heroes　do；〃　said　her　aunt；　quietly。　　〃Ranald　has　noble
  qualities；　but　he　has　had　very　few　advantages。〃
  Then　Mrs。　Murray　told　her　niece　how　Ranald　had　put　himself　between
  her　and　the　pursuing　wolves。　　Maimie's　blue　eyes　were　wide　with
  horror。
  〃But；　auntie；〃　she　cried；　〃why　in　the　world　do　you　go　to　such
  places？〃
  〃What　places；　Maimie？〃　said　the　minister；　who　had　come　into　the
  room。
  〃Why；　those　awful　places　where　the　wolves　are。〃
  〃Indeed；　you　may　ask　why；〃　said　the　minister；　gravely。　　He　had
  heard　the　story　from　his　wife　the　night　before。　　〃But　it　would　need
  a　man　to　be　on　guard　day　and　night　to　keep　your　aunt　from　'those
  places。'〃
  〃Yes；　and　your　uncle；　too；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　shaking　her　head　at
  her　husband。　　〃You　see；　Maimie；　we　live　in　'those　places'；　and
  after　all；　they　are　as　safe　as　any。　　We　are　in　good　keeping。〃
  〃And　was　Hughie　out　all　night　with　those　two　boys　in　those　woods；
  auntie？〃
  〃Oh；　there　was　no　danger。　　The　wolves　will　not　come　near　a　fire；
  and　the　boys　have　their　dogs　and　guns；〃　said　Mrs。　Murray；　〃besides；
  Ranald　is　to　be　trusted。〃
  〃Trusted？〃　said　the　minister；　〃indeed；　I　would　not　trust　him　too
  far。　　He　is　just　wild　enough；　like　his　father　before　him。〃
  〃Oh；　papa；　you　don't　know　Ranald；〃　said　his　wife；　warmly；　〃nor　his
  father　either；　for　that　matter。　　I　never　did　till　this　last　week。
  They　have　kept　aloof　from　everything；　and　really〃
  〃And　whose　fault　is　that？〃　interrupted　the　minister。　　〃Why　should
  they　keep　aloof　from　the　means　of　grace？　　They　are　a　godless　lot；
  that's　what　they　are。〃　　The　minister's　indignation　was　rising。
  〃But；　my　dear；〃　persisted　Mrs。　Murray；　〃I　believe　if　they　had　a
  chance〃
  〃Chance！〃　exclaimed　the　minister；　〃what　more　chance　do　they　want？
  Have　they　not　all　that　other　people　have？　　Macdonald　Dubh　is　rarely
  seen　at　the　services　on　the　Lord's　day；　and　as　for　Ranald；　he　comes
  and　goes　at　his　own　sweet　will。〃
  〃Let　us　hope；〃　said　his　wife；　gently；　〃they　will　improve。　　I
  believe　Ranald　would　come　to　Bible　class　were　he　not　so　shy。〃
  〃Shy！〃　laughed　the　minister；　scornfully；　〃he　is　not　too　shy　to
  stand　up　on　the　table　before　a　hundred　men　after　a　logging　and
  dance　the　Highland　fling；　and　beautifully　he　does　it；　too；〃　he
  added。
  〃But　for　all　that；〃　said　his　wife；　〃he　is　very　shy。〃
  〃I　don't　like　shy　people；〃　said　Maimie；　〃they　are　so　awkward　and
  dreadful　to　do　with。〃
  〃Well；〃　said　her　aunt；　quietly；　〃I　rather　like　people　who　are　not
  too　sure　of　themselves；　and　I　think　all　the　more　of　Ranald　for　his
  shyness　and　modesty。〃
  〃Oh；　Ranald's　modesty　won't　disable　him；〃　said　the　minist