upon "making it up to
Steenie." It had been a hard struggle at times, harder than anyone had
guessed, but he had come through it well. And now he was thinking of
taking up land for himself when a good opportunity should come. But
the reward he had hoped for was not to be his. Throughout the first
year of labour he had held firmly to his purpose of somehow, at some
not too distant date, making a home for Stephanie. After that, he had
no longer been able to shut his eyes to the little romance that she and
Roger were unconsciously acting. And, with an ache at his heart, he
had put aside his own hopes of happiness, and merged them into hers.
So Mrs. Collinson was to have a real daughter after all. But as she
told every one, "I 've always regarded Steenie as a daughter, ever
since she's been here with us. So it won't make any difference in that
way."

And, perhaps, on this particularly merry evening, it is not to be
wondered at that Dick should feel a little sad; though Nonie O'Brien
did her best to keep him in good spirits, acting on the principle that
whoever is annoyed and irritated has no time to be melancholy as well.
But he was gradually learning the most difficult lesson of cheerful
self-effacement, and did not allow his own thoughts and feelings to
spoil the cheeriness of the others. He wove wonderful Indian romances
for the benefit of the children; he helped Mrs. Collinson in a score of
ways; he sang old English songs; he played games. Yet he could not
help being a little sad that so soon his life and Stephanie's would be
divided. They were as dear to each other as ever--dearer, perhaps, in
view of the coming change. But now their hopes, and fears, and joys
were to be no longer in unison. Dick's character had deepened and
strengthened much in those three years; and his affections, and the
slight sorrows which came through them, had deepened and strengthened
proportionately.

But there was one source of help and comfort ever open to his
heart--his love of nature, which should grow with his growth and
strengthen with his strength as long as his life endured, and his
growing faith and trust in nature's God. Whenever he was in trouble or
perplexity, he managed to steal a quiet hour in the forests, and always
returned to his work with fresh energy and fresh confidence. So now,
when the fun and noise were at their highest, he slipped from the room,
and out into the quiet night. Stephanie's dark eyes foll