ly.

"It's naething, dear, naething that I can tell to mortal. I dinna ken
what has come ower me. It's just as if a giant had a gripe o' me, and
move I canna. But surely I'll be set free in time."

There was nothing Graeme could say to this; but she laid her cheek down
on Janet's hand again, and there were tears upon it.

"Now dinna do that, Miss Graeme," cried Janet, struggling with another
wave of the returning flood. "What will come o' us if you give way.
There's naething ails me but that I'm an auld fule, and I canna help
that, you ken."

"Janet, it was an awful sacrifice you made, to leave your mother and
Sandy to come with us. I never thought till to-night how great it must
have been."

"Ay, lassie. I'll no deny it, but dinna think that I grudge it now. It
wasna made in a right sperit, and that the Lord is showing me. I
thought you couldna do without me."

"We couldna, Janet."

"And I aye thought if I could be of any use to your father and your
father's bairns, and could see them contented, and well in a strange
land, that would be enough for me. And I hae gotten my wish. You're a'
weel, and weel contented, and my heart is lying in my breast as heavy as
lead, and no strength of mine can lift the burden. God help me."

"God will help you," said Graeme, softly. "It is the sore
home-sickness, like the captives by Babel stream. But the Lord never
brought you here in anger, and, Janet, it will pass away."

"Weel, it may be. That's what my mother said, or something like it. He
means to let me see that you can do without me. But I'll bide still
awhile, anyway."

Graeme's face was fall of dismay.

"Janet! what could we ever do without you?"

"Oh, you could learn. But I'm not going to leave you yet. The giant
shallna master me with my will. But, oh! lassie, whiles I think the
Lord has turned against me for my self-seeking and pride."

"But, Janet," said Graeme, gravely, "the Lord never turns against his
own people. And if anybody in the world is free from self-seeking it is
you. It is for us you are living, and not for yourself."

Janet shook her head.

"And, Janet, when the bonny spring days come, the giant will let you go.
The weight will be lifted off, I'm sure it will. And, Janet, about
Sandy--. You may be sure o' him. If you had been there to guide him,
he might have been wilful, and have gone astray, like others. But now
the Lord will have him in His keeping, for, Janet, if