gth would be needed for the
preparations that must soon commence, and that no time so good as the
present might be found for her own personal arrangements. Her little
savings were to be lodged in safe hands for her mother's use, and if
anything were to happen to her they were to be taken to send Sandy over
the sea. It was all done very quietly and calmly. I will not say that
Janet's voice did not falter sometimes, or that no mist came between the
mother's eyes and the grave face on the other side of the table. But
there was no sign given. A strong sense of duty sustained them. A firm
belief that however painful the future might be, they were doing right
in this matter, gave them power to look calmly at the sacrifice that
must cost them so much.

At length the children's voices were heard, and at the sound, Janet's
heart leaped up with a throb of pain, but in words she gave no utterance
to the pang.

"Weel, Sandy, lad, is this you," said she, as with mingled shyness and
pleasure the boy came forward at his grandmother's bidding. He was a
well-grown and healthy lad, with a frank face, and a thick shock of
light curls. There was a happy look in his large blue eyes, and the
smile came very naturally to his rather large mouth. To his mother, at
the moment, he seemed altogether beautiful, and her heart cried out
against the great trial that was before her. Sandy stood with his hand
in hers, while his grandmother questioned him about the errand on which
he had been sent, and she had time to quiet herself. But there was a
look on her face as she sat there, gently stroking his fair hair with
her hand, that was sad to see. Marian saw it with momentary wonder, and
then coming up to her, she laid her arm gently over her neck and
whispered,--

"Sandy is going with us too, Janet. There will be plenty of room for us
all."

"I've been telling Menie that I canna leave grannie," said Sandy,
turning gravely to his mother. "You'll hae Norman and Harry, and them
a', but grannie has none but me."

"And wouldna you like to go with us too, Sandy, man?" asked his mother,
with a pang.

"To yon fine country John Ferguson tells us about?" said Sandy, with
sparkling eyes. "That I would, but it wouldna be right to leave
grannie, and she says she's ower old to go so far-away--and over the
great sea too."

"Nae, my lad, it wouldna be right to leave grannie by herself, and
you'll need to bide here. Think aye first of what is r