gly inclined for
peace. Big Malcolm looked at the gentle face of his wife and the fire
died out of his eyes.

"Hoh!" he exclaimed disdainfully, "I will not be caring; let them have
their childish foolishness if it will be doing them any good, whatever!"

Weaver Jimmie looked disappointed, but, seeing no encouragement in the
faces about him, he reluctantly dropped the subject. The conversation
soon turned from war to a topic even nearer Jimmie's heart, for Rory
had brought out his fiddle and now struck up gaily the song of the
cruel Jinny and the hapless weaver.

Before the departure of the guests Scotty found an opportunity to
confide his troubles to Isabel. He could not tell her exactly what was
wrong, for that meant confessing that Callum and Grandaddy were capable
of mistakes. But he vaguely hinted that he was worried over their
hero. Callum was going to do something, something strange and new, but
just what he could not discover. Isabel was equally perturbed. Why
not ask Granny? she suggested. She would tell them. But no, Scotty
explained, that was just what they must not do, for it was something
that made Granny sad. But Peter Lauchie knew; Peter had told him that
the shanty at the north clearing was to be fixed up for Callum to live
there, after harvest; and then he laughed and would tell him no more.

As usual Isabel was quick to suggest a way out of the difficulty. Why
should they not go over to Peter's place some day and _make_ him tell
all about it? She wanted to see Betty again, anyway, and perhaps
Hughie would put up a swing for them in the barn again.

This was a fine plan, and the next week they proceeded to put it into
execution, and with Kirsty's permission set off early one morning for a
day's visit at Long Lauchie's. Isabel was almost as well known there
as Scotty himself, so he soon managed to leave her in Betty's company
and go off to the fields to seek Peter.

By judicious and persistent questioning he learned the confirmation of
his fears. Yes, Peter and all the boys knew what the trouble was.
Callum was to be married, and to an Irish girl at that, and of course
all the MacDonalds were highly disgusted.

Scotty listened in dismay. Callum to be married! That itself was bad
enough, people were always laughed at and chaffed when they got
married, and he writhed at the thought of his hero being in such an
ignominious position. But to be married to an Irish girl! Surely the
Mac