running hastily off
to get out of the way of payment; and, finally, an elaborate epistle
from the parish priest of Cetigna (Basil's home) expressed the gratitude
of the village for this our simple act of kindness.

II.

"Oh, that I were where I would be."

Aunt Cattie was called away to see visitors, and it was not till after
tea that the story could be resumed. Millie had chafed at the
interruption, and said it was horrid of people to come, and bring one
down from the Black Mountain to listen to talk about weather and
fashions. Janie bore the delay more philosophically, observing that she
could not have turned the heel of her stocking so correctly while
thinking of Nilo and his poor mother. Archie remained silent, only when
Aunt Cattie sat down and resumed her narrative, he was heard to mutter
to himself that it was "awful jolly!"

The day that Spira left us, she said, was the last of your uncle's
holiday. That evening we sat together before the hearth on which a pine
log or two from Montenegro blazed. Your uncle cracked his walnuts in a
thoughtful mood, and I sat listening to the wind which rose and rose
till it blew a perfect gale; when it paused, as if to take breath, I
could count the waves that plashed on the shingle, and hear the shouts
of people on the quay welcoming the mail steamer from Ragusa.

"Laurie," said I at last, "are you going by that vessel to-morrow
morning?"

"Yes," he answered, "I have made up my mind to go to Ragusa, and come to
an explanation with John Popham; there has been a misunderstanding
between us, Cattie--I may tell you this much--and he has been led to
doubt not only the prudence of my conduct in the affairs of the house,
but the purity of my motives also."

"Doubt your purity of motive!" I cried. "If he can do that, Laurie, it
is not fit you should remain in his service another moment; it is not,
indeed."

There was a quiet smile on his face as he sat opposite to me in the
flickering firelight; he did not speak and I sat silent too, perusing
the lines of that dear face with a strange unaccountable foreboding of
evil.

"The man," thought I, "who can meet the glance of those clear, honest,
grey eyes, hear the tones of that kindly voice, and harbour one
suspicion, must be blind indeed. Heaven grant my Laurie be not too
honest, too unsuspicious for his own safety! If he could only be
persuaded to take half the care of that he does of the interests of
those ungratef