t be frightened by it."

Ah, no. If she had had that strong heart to lean on, that tender hand to
help her through the world, she never would have been "frightened" at any
thing.

"I know I am very foolish," she said; "but there are many things which
these children of mine don't see, and I can't help seeing."

"Certainly; they are young, and we are--well, never mind. Sit down here,
and let you and me talk the matter quietly over. On the whole, are you
glad or sorry?"

"Both, I think. David is able to take care of himself; but poor little
Janetta--my Janetta--what if he should bring her to poverty? He is a
little reckless about money, and has only a very small certain income.
Worse; suppose being so young, he should by-and-by get tired of her, and
neglect her, and break her heart?"

"Or twenty other things which may happen, or may not, and of which they
must take the chance, like their neighbors. You do not believe very much
in men, I see, and perhaps you are right. We are a bad lot--a bad lot.
But David Dalziel is as good as most of us, that I can assure you."

She could hardly tell whether he was in jest or earnest; but this was
certain, he meant to cheer and comfort her, and she took the comfort,
and was thankful.

"Now to the point," continued Mr. Roy. "You feel that, in a worldly
point of view, these two have done a very foolish thing, and you have
aided and abetted them in doing it?"

"Not so," she cried, laughing; "I had no idea of such a thing till David
told me yesterday morning of his intentions."

"Yes, and he explained to me why he told you, and why he dared not wait
any longer. He blurts out every thing, the foolish boy! But he has made
friends with me now. They do seem such children, do they not, compared
with old folks like you and me?"

What was it in the tone or the words which made her feel not in the least
vexed, nor once attempt to rebut the charge of being "old?"

"I'll tell you what it is," said Robert Roy, with one of his sage smiles,
"you must not go and vex yourself needlessly about trifles. We should
not judge other people by ourselves. Every body is so different.
Dalziel may make his way all the better for having that pretty creature
for a wife, not but what some other pretty creature might soon have done
just as well. Very few men have tenacity of nature enough, if they can
not get the one woman they love, to do without any other to the end of
their days. But don't