ll spectacles and read. Her only book was the
Bible. She read nothing else--to say truth, at that time there was
little else to read in Red River. The first night of her watch she had
asked the invalid if he would like her to read a few verses to him.

"You may if you like, Peg," he had replied. "You know it iss little I
care for releegion, for I don't believe in it, but you may read if you
like--it may amuse me, an' will help to make the time pass--whatever."

Thus the custom was established. It was plain that the old woman
counted much on the influence of the simple Word of God, without
comment, for every time she opened the Bible she shut her eyes and her
lips moved in silent prayer before she began to read.

The invalid was greatly tickled with this little preliminary prayer, and
would have laughed aloud if he had not been too weak to do so. As time
went on, however, he became interested in the Gospel narratives in spite
of himself, and he began to experience some sort of relish for the
evening reading--chiefly because, as he carefully explained to Elspie,
"the droning o' the old wumman's voice" sent him to sleep.

Meanwhile the other invalid--Duncan senior--progressed as slowly as did
his son. The nursing of him was undertaken chiefly by Jessie Davidson--
the sympathetic Jessie--who was established as an inmate of Ben Nevis
_pro tem_, for that very purpose. She was ably seconded--during part of
each day--by Billie Sinclair, between whom and the old Highlander there
grew up at that time a strong friendship. For many weeks poor old McKay
was confined to his bed, and then, when allowed to rise, he could only
walk across his room with the aid of the strong arm of his stalwart son
Fergus. To sit at his open window and look out at his garden was his
principal amusement, and smoking a long clay pipe his chief solace.
Like Duncan junior, old Duncan was quite willing to hear the Bible read
to him now and then, by Jessie Davidson and more especially by Little
Bill; but the idea of deriving any real comfort from that book never for
a moment entered his head.

One day Elspie came to him and said:

"Daddy, Dan wants to see you to-day, if you feel well enough."

"Surely, my tear. It iss not the first time he will be seein' me since
I got the stroke."

"He has brought you a present--something that he has made--which he
hopes will be useful to you."

"What is it, Elspie?"

"You shall see. May I tell him to c