o they sat without a word;
Janet, with the quiet tears falling now and then over her cheeks; her
mother, grave and firm, giving no outward sign of emotion. Each shrunk,
for the other's sake, from putting their fears for the future into
words; but their thoughts were busy. The mother's heart ached for the
great wrench that must sever Janet from her child and her home, and
Janet's heart grew sick with the dread of long weary days and nights her
mother might have to pass, with perhaps no daughter's hand to close her
eyes at last, till the thoughts of both changed to supplication, fervent
though unuttered; and the burden of the prayer of each was, that the
other might have strength and peace.

The mother spoke first. "When will it be?"

"It canna be long now. The sooner the better when once it's really
settled. There are folk in the parish no weel pleased at the minister,
for thinking to go."

"It's for none to say what's right, and what's wrang, in the matter,"
said the mother, gravely. "I hae nae doubt the Lord will go with him;
but it will be a drear day for plenty besides me."

"He's bent on it. Go he will, and I trust it may be for the best," but
Janet sighed drearily.

"And how are the bairns pleased with the prospect?" asked her mother.

"Ah! they're weel pleased, bairn-like, at any thought o' a change. Miss
Graeme has her doubts, I whiles think, but that shouldna count; there
are few things that look joyful to her at the present time. She's ower
like her father with her ups and downs. She hasna her mother's cheerful
spirit."

"Her mother's death was an awfu' loss to Miss Graeme, poor thing," said
the mother.

"Aye, that it was--her that had never kent a trouble but by readin' o'
them in printed books. It was an awfu' wakening to her. She has never
been the same since, and I doubt it will be long till she has the same
light heart again. She tries to fill her mother's place to them all,
and when she finds she canna do it, she loses heart and patience with
herself. But I hae great hope o' her. She has the `single eye,' and
God will guide her. I hae nae fear for Miss Graeme."

And then they spoke of many things--settling their little matters of
business, and arranging their plans as quietly as though they looked
forward to doing the same thing every month during the future years as
they had done during the past. Nothing was forgotten or omitted; for
Janet well knew that all her time and stren