ou won a great victory, Ranald, I hear," said the minister, as
Ranald brought Black to the door.

"It was a tie," said Ranald.

"Oh, Ranald!" cried Hughie, "you beat him. Everybody says so. You had
your chain hitched up and everything before Aleck."

"I hear it was a great exhibition, not only of skill, but of endurance
and patience, Ranald," said the minister. "And these are noble virtues.
It is a great thing to be able to endure."

But Ranald made no reply, busying himself with Black's bridle. Mrs.
Murray noticed his gloom and guessed its cause.

"We will see you at the Bible class, Ranald," she said, kindly, but
still Ranald remained silent.

"Can you not speak, man?" said his father. "Do you not hear the
minister's wife talking to you?"

"Yes," said Ranald, "I will be there."

"We will be glad to see you," said Mrs. Murray, offering him her hand.
"And you might come in with Hughie for a few minutes afterward," she
continued, kindly, for she noted the misery in his face.

"And we will be glad to see you, too, Mr. Macdonald, if it would not be
too much for you, and if you do not scorn a woman's teaching."

"Indeed, I would be proud," said Macdonald Dubh, courteously, "as far as
that is concerned, for I hear there are better men than me attending."

"I am sure Mrs. Murray will be glad to see you, Mr. Macdonald," said the
minister.

"I will be thinking of it," said Macdonald Dubh, cautiously. "And you
are both very kind, whatever," he said, losing for a time his habitual
gloom.

"Well, then, I will look for you both," said Mrs. Murray, as they were
about to drive off, "so do not disappoint me."

"Good by, Ranald," said Maimie, offering Ranald her hand.

"Good by," said Ranald, holding her hand for a moment and looking hard
into her eyes, "and I hope you will enjoy your ride, whatever."

Then Maimie understood Ranald's savage manner, and as she thought it
over she smiled to herself. She was taking her first sips of that cup,
to woman's lips the sweetest, and she found it not unpleasant. She had
succeeded in making one man happy and another miserable. But it was when
she said to herself, "Poor Ranald!" that she smiled most sweetly.

CHAPTER XIV

SHE WILL NOT FORGET

If Mrs. Murray was not surprised to see Macdonald Dubh and Yankee walk
in on Sabbath evening and sit down in the back seat, her class were.
Indeed the appearance of these two men at the class was considered an
event so extraordina