potatoes, and muslin kail, with a salt
herring now and then."

"Well, porridge and potatoes it shall be," said Jane, "for three years,
and then starvation, if the world pleases."

"If God pleases, Miss Jane; the chief thing is for us to place our
trust in Him," said Peggy.

"You are right, Peggy, I suppose; but it is hard to unlearn so much old
schooling and to accept of new teachings. Did your faith support you
when you were perplexed and disappointed--when friends were unfaithful,
and the world hard and cruel?"

"My trials have not been just like yours; but whatever God sent, He
gave me strength to bear; and it will be the same with you, Miss Jean,
if you put yourself humbly in His hands. But the auld laird cared for
none of these things; though I am sure when he left you so poorly
provided for in this world, he behoved to have given you a good hold of
the hope of a better;--besides that, it makes us contented with a very
humble lot here below. I am, maybe, too free-spoken, Miss Jean, but I
mean no disrespect."

"No offence can be taken where none is meant, Peggy; and friends are
too scarce with us now for us to reject any good advice. I am very glad
to know that we can subsist on our income, for I have not been
accustomed to deal with such small sums."

"You have wealth of clothes, no doubt; enough to last you for a while;
so there need be no outlay for that."

"And we have our own furniture--too much, I suppose for your little
room. We can sell the overplus when a push comes. I do not think
anything could suit us better than your kind offer."

"I have heard," said Peggy, "that the folk hereabouts think you will be
getting up a subscription."

"They are very much mistaken," said Jane; "the hardest living is
preferable to that. I wish you could say that Melbourne, or any part of
Australia, would do for us. Everybody was surprised when you returned
to Swinton so suddenly."

"Well, I could send the bairns more money from Melbourne than I can
make for them here, and no doubt the folk thought me foolish to leave
such a place; but what good was the money to the poor things when there
was no management, for the old man is but silly, and the bairns had
mostly the upper hand of him, though whiles they did catch it. I have
had my own ado with Tam for the last two years. I think I have got the
victory now; but I must try and keep it. So, as grandfather dreads the
water, I think I will stop in this country while he