"I believe it is so with you," said Alison, scarcely able to keep the
tears from her eyes.

"After sometimes not daring to dwell on him, and then only venturing
because I thought he must be dead, to have him back again with the same
looks, only deeper--to find that he clung to those weeks so long ago,
and, above all, that there was not one cloud, one doubt about the
troubles--Oh, it is too, too much."

Ermine lent back with clasped hands. She was like one weary with
happiness, and lain to rest in the sense of newly-won peace. She said
little more that evening, and if spoken to, seemed like one wakened out
of a dream, so that more than once she laughed at herself, begged her
sister's pardon, and said that it seemed to her that she could not hear
anything for the one glad voice that rang in her ear, "Colin is come
home." That was sufficient for her, no need for any other sympathy,
felt Alison, with another of those pangs crushed down. Then wonder
came--whether Ermine could really contemplate the future, or if it were
absolutely lost in the present?

Colonel Keith went back to be seized by Conrade and Francis, and
walked off to the pony inspection, the two boys, on either side of him,
communicating to him the great grievance of living in a poky place like
this, where nobody had ever been in the army, nor had a bit of sense,
and Aunt Rachel was always bothering, and trying to make mamma think
that Con told stories.

"I don't mind that," said Conrade, stoutly; "let her try!"

"Oh, but she wanted mamma to shut you up," added Francis.

"Well, and mamma knows better," said Conrade, "and it made her leave off
teaching me, so it was lucky. But I don't mind that; only don't you see,
Colonel, they don't know how to treat mamma! They go and bully her, and
treat her like--like a subaltern, till I hate the very sight of it."

"My boy," said the Colonel, who had been giving only half attention;
"you must make up your mind to your mother not being at the head of
everything, as she used to be in your father's time. She will always
be respected, but you must look to yourself as you grow up to make a
position tor her!"

"I wish I was grown up!" sighed Conrade; "how I would give it to Aunt
Rachel! But why must we live here to have her plaguing us?"

Questions that the Colonel was glad to turn aside by moans of the
ponies, and by a suggestion that, if a very quiet one were found, and if
Conrade would be very careful, mamma might,