r the best; and the best I must have," was the
remark that generally followed her brief but emphatic grace before meat;
and it was not omitted this time. "It will do you good, Lilias, my
dear."

And it did do her good. The honey and cakes were beyond praise, and
Lilias ate and was refreshed. When the tea was over, Mrs Stirling
rather abruptly introduced the former subject of conversation.

"And what were you going to do with your brother when you made your fine
plans for the summer?" she asked.

"Archie's at the school, you know," answered Lilias, shrinking rather
from Nancy's tone and manner than from her words.

"Yes; he's at the school just now. But he wasn't going to stop at the
school, surely, when you went to the herding?"

"Oh yes; he is far better at the school."

"Ay, he's better at the school than playing. But wherefore should not
he go to the weeding or the herding as well as you?"

"Archie! Why, he's but a child! What could he do?"

"And what are you but a child?" asked Nancy, smiling. "I'm thinking
there is little over the twelve months between you."

"But Archie never was strong. It would never do to expose him to all
kinds of weather or to fatigue. Don't you mind such a cripple as he was
when we came here? You used to think he wouldn't live long. Don't you
mind?"

"Yes, I mind; but he did live, and thrive too; and he's the most
life-like of the two to-day, I'm thinking. Fatigue, indeed! and he
ranging over the hills with that daft laddie Davie Graham, and playing
at the ball by the hour together! What should ail him, I wonder?"

"But even if Archie were strong and well, and could gain far more than I
can, it would yet be far better for him to be at the school. A man can
do so little in the world if he has no education; and now is Archie's
time to get it."

"Well, it may be. And when's your time coming?" asked Nancy, drily.

"Oh, it is quite different with me," said Lilias, with a feeble attempt
at a laugh. "A woman can slip through the world quietly, you know. I
shan't need learning as Archie will. And, besides, I can do a great
many things; and I can learn though I don't go to the school."

"Learn, indeed! and slip through the world quietly!" exclaimed Mrs
Stirling, with an expression of mingled pity and contempt. "These may
be your doctrines, but they're not mine. But it's easy seen what will
be the upshot of this. It's just your aunt and your father over again.
Sh