ung Davie, who had been
keeping his eyes and his ears open to all that was going on in Gershom.
"But grandfather and you may be at peace about the dam and the mischief
it might do for a while anyway. It may come in my day, but it winna
come in yours, unless that should happen which is not very likely to
happen, and all the rich men in the country should put their names and
their money at the disposal of King Jacob. He may measure his land, and
gather his sticks and his stones together, but that is all it will come
to, this while at any rate. Though why grandfather should be so
unwilling to part with a few acres of poor land to Jacob Holt is more
than I can understand."

"It is a wonder to me, Davie lad, where you got such a conceit of
yourself. One would think you were in folks' secrets, and spoke with
authority. It will do here at home with Katie and your mother and me,
but I am thinking other folk would laugh to hear you."

But Mrs Fleming was relieved for all that, for Davie was, in her
opinion, a lad of sense and discretion for his years, though she did not
think it necessary to tell him so, and she took comfort in the thought
that her husband would have a while's peace, as little more could be
done till the spring opened again.

CHAPTER TWELVE.

THE TWO COUSINS.

A great disappointment was preparing for Elizabeth. Her brother
completed his studies, and brought home his diploma, whether he deserved
it or not, and spent a pleasant six weeks at home, "resting from his
labours," as he said, and then he announced his intention of going to
reside in the city of Montreal, to pursue there the study of the law.
It had always been taken for granted that when his studies came to an
end, he was to go into the business of the Holts, and settle down in
Gershom.

"And what good should I do in the business?" said he to his sister;
"should I stand behind the counter in the store and sell yards of calico
and pounds of tea? Or should I take the tannery in hand, or the
paper-mill? Or should I go into the new company that Jacob seems so
bent on getting up? Now, Lizzie, do be reasonable and tell me what good
I should do in the business."

"I know that few young men in the country could hope for such a start in
life. It is not necessary that you should sell tea or calico either,
except by the hands of those you may employ--though if you were to do
it, it would be no discredit to you--and no more than your father di