stence. Her poor aunt's illnesses, even, were
associated in her childish mind with the keenest delight, for they
brought her what she enjoyed most in the world, many days spent in the
Oa. Nominally her home was with her old nurse, but she really spent
the greater part of her time at Scotty's home. And here Weaver Jimmie
became indirectly a partaker in the joy of the little one's presence;
for Kirsty entrusted her girl to him in her journeys between the
clearings; an honour of which Jimmie boasted from one end of the Oa to
the other, and fulfilled his commission with a vigilance that kept his
lively young charge in a state of indignant rebellion.

In the meantime Scotty had grown to like this new comrade and to
respect her. Of course she was only a girl, but she was immeasurably
superior to Betty, for she rarely cried, was always merry, had a
marvellous inventive genius and never failed of some new and wonderful
scheme for enjoying life and escaping work. His big, generous heart
experienced no jealousy, but only a great pride in her, when she
usurped his place and became the centre of interest and admiration in
his home. One visit had been sufficient to establish her as the ruler
of Big Malcolm's household. Everyone came at her beck and call; Rory
fiddled, Callum danced, Old Farquhar sang, and Hamish spun impossible
yarns at her command. And Granny, who was the most abject subject of
all, would fondle her golden curls, calling her Margaret, the name of
her own little girl whom she had lost, and would let her help make the
johnny cake for supper, apparently not a whit disturbed by the fact
that everything in the room was strewn with flour. Big Malcolm himself
seemed to forget that she belonged to the man against whom he had sworn
lifelong enmity, and like the rest, opened his heart to her
unreservedly. And she returned his affection with all the might of her
warm happy nature. She called him "Grandaddy," as Scotty did, and
would climb upon his knee and coax and tease him into doing things that
even his grandson would not have dared to ask.

The little visitor always came at a time that Scotty found very
convenient, just when the closing of school had deprived him of Danny
Murphy's companionship; and to-night he looked forward to her coming
with more than usual pleasure, for he needed her help and advice. Of
late the boy's tender heart had been worried by signs of discord at
home. Something he could not fatho