ry little about them. There are two brothers, I
believe--one very middle-aged and the other less so. I may have passed
the time of day with one or the other."

"Well, it's the less middle-aged one--Lachlan by name--who wants to
marry Christian. It's all right about religion. He's ready to make
all the necessary promises, and moreover, remarked quite spontaneously
that he intended coming to church with his wife after they were
married--a most unusual undertaking in these cases. He's evidently
merely ignorant of everything Catholic; not bigoted, really. With a
wife like Christian, he is most likely to enter the Church himself
eventually."

"But what are these almost insurmountable obstacles?"

"Chiefly financial. It seems that the elder brother is the actual
tenant of Redbank, and Lachlan is little better than a farm-servant at
present. It would be scarcely possible for the poor chap to support a
wife and three of a ready-made family on the wages of a mere
plowman--except, of course, in the style of a common laborer, and he is
far above that. The best way out of the difficulty would be for
Christian to manage the house at Redbank, instead of a paid
housekeeper; but the old brother is bitter against Catholics, and more
opposed to young children in the house. Hence these tears! Don't you
think there are rather respectable obstacles to be overcome?"

"Quite. So what did you suggest?"

"Cameron himself suggested what I think a reasonable solution: to try
for some situation as farm bailiff or manager. He is thoroughly up to
it all, for he has been practically managing things at Redbank for the
last year or two, and has plenty of experience in farm work."

"He ought to be able to find something of the sort. Could the factor
at Taskerton do anything for him, do you think? Christian has already
lost a husband in the service of the estate, and it would be but
restitution to provide her with another."

"The idea struck me, too, though not in precisely the same terms," said
Val with an amused laugh. "I am thinking of writing to him about the
matter."

"You are really satisfied with the man, then?"

"Decidedly so! He struck me as being a very decent sort of fellow. He
has a straight-forward, pleasant manner with him, and is altogether
superior to an ordinary crofter. It would be a good match for
Christian. Poor soul! She deserves a better lot than she enjoys at
present."

"What's his age, do you supp