ain; we thought the day would never come. Have we not
counted the very hours this week, Christina?'

'Ay, we hae; but I dinna think she's fell gled to be hame hersel',' said
Teen, and her dark eye was shadowed, for she felt that a subtle change
had overcast the bright spirit of Gladys, and she did not know what it
might portend.

'Oh, such nonsense you two talk,' cried Gladys lightly. 'Dear Miss Peck,
just ask them to hurry up dinner. I am famishing to taste a real home
dinner. Well, Teen, how have you been all this summer? I must say you
look like a new creature. I believe you are quite beautiful, and we
shall have somebody falling in love with you directly. I don't suppose
you have heard or seen anything of poor Lizzie?'

'No, naething. Walter was here, Miss Gladys, last week, seeking ye.'

The colour rose in the face of Gladys, and she averted her head to hide
her softened, luminous eyes from the gaze of Teen.

'And did you tell him I was coming home this week?'

'I didna. We only spoke aboot Liz, an' some aboot his ain affairs. Miss
Peck saw him maist o' the time. He's gaun to sell his business, and gang
awa' to America or Australia.'

'Oh!' exclaimed Gladys sharply. 'Why should he do any such thing, when
he is getting on so well?'

'I am sure I dinna ken,' replied Teen quietly, though she knew--ay, as
well as Gladys--what it all meant. 'His faither's deid; he de'ed efter a
week's illness, jist at the Fair time, an' he's gaun to tak' his mither
wi' him. She's bidin' at Colquhoun Street the noo.'

'A great deal seems to have happened since I went away,' said Gladys,
with something of an effort. 'Is he going to do this soon?'

'Yes, I think immediately; at least, he cam' doon here to say guid-bye
to you. But Miss Peck can tell ye mair nor me; she spoke a long time
till him.'

A question was on the lips of Gladys, but she held it back, and again
changed the theme.

'And what does he think about poor Lizzie? I suppose he has never gone
to Dublin to seek for her?'

'No, I dinna think it.'

'It is all very sad. Don't you think life very sad, Teen?' asked Gladys,
with a great wistfulness, which made the eyes of the little seamstress
become suddenly dim.

'Ay, it is. Oh, Miss Gladys, excuse me for sayin't, but if ye had seen
his face when I telt him ye were maybe to be mairried in September or
October, ye wadna dae't.'

'Why not? That could not possibly make any difference to me, Christina,'
replied Gla