lenty of ways beyond my
planning; and the Lord has not forgotten us, I'm sure of that. I must
just wait. There is nothing else I can do. There! I won't let another
tear come to-night, if I can help it."

She did her best to help it, for Mrs Stirling came bustling out again,
and they set off down the brae. She had leisure to help it, too; for
from the moment the great door-key was hidden in the thatch, till they
paused beside the stepping-stones, she did not need to speak a word.
Nancy had all the talk to herself, and rambled on from one thing to
another, never pausing for an answer, till they stood beside the brook.
Here Nancy was to turn back.

"And now, Lilias, my dear, you'll mind what I have been saying to you,
and that you have promised to have patience? It winna be easy. You
have ay been doing for your aunt and your brother; and the more you had
to do the better you liked it. But it's one thing to do, and it's
another thing to sit with your hands tied and see them needing the help
you canna give. I doubt you may have a sorer heart to carry about with
you than you have kenned of yet. No, that I'm feared for you in the
end. And, though it's no pleasant thing to ask favours, I have that
faith in you that I would come to you, and wouldna fear to be denied. I
ken you would have more pleasure in giving than in withholding; and I
would take a gift from you as freely as I ken it would be freely given."

She paused a moment, and Lilias tried to say that indeed she might trust
her, for it would give her more pleasure than she had words to tell, to
be able to do anything for so kind a friend.

"As to that, we'll say nothing," said Nancy, drily. But suddenly,
changing her tone and manner, she added, "What I have to say is this.
You'll not refuse to me what I wouldna refuse to you, you that are far
wiser and better than I am, or ever expect to be? What's the use of
having friends if you canna offer them a helping hand in their time of
need? And mind, I'm no giving it," she added, opening her hands and
showing three golden sovereigns. "There's no fear but I'll get them
back with interest. There's nine-and-twenty more where these came from,
in the china teapot in the press; though that's neither here nor there.
And, Lilias, my dear, no soul need ever know." The last words were
spoken beseechingly.

Lilias did not refuse the gift in words. She had no words at her
command. But she shut Nancy's fingers back