he perceived herself to be observed.
Her lips, slightly apart, had lost the set look which seemed to tell of
silence that must be kept, whatever befell. The whole expression of the
face was changed and softened. It looked very youthful, almost
childlike, in its repose.

"That is the way she must have looked before her trouble came upon her,
whatever it may have been," thought Mrs Hume with a sigh. And then she
said softly to the minister: "I doubt it is growing late, and the bairns
are very weary."

"Yes, it is time to draw to a close." So he ended the discussion with a
few judicious words, and then read the remaining verses of the chapter
and gave out the psalm.

Sometimes, on receiving such a hint from the mother, it was his way to
"omit the singing for a night." But this was John Beaton's first night
among them, and the lads and their mother would, he thought, like the
singing. And so he read the psalm and waited in silence for John to
begin, and then Mrs Hume turned toward him.

A little withdrawn from the rest, John sat with his head upon his hand,
and his eyes fixed on the face of Allison Bain. His own face was pale,
with a strange look upon it, as though he had forgotten where he was,
and had lost himself in a dream. Mrs Hume was startled.

"John," said she softly, putting the book into his hand.

And then, instead of the strong, full tones which were naturally to be
expected when John Beaton opened his lips, his voice rose, full, but
soft and clear, and instinctively the tones of Robin and his mother were
modulated to his. As for the others, they did not sing at all. For
John was not singing the psalm which the minister had read, nor was he
even looking at the book. But softly, as a mother might sing to her
child, the words came:

"Jehovah hear thee in the day
When trouble He doth send,
And let the name of Jacob's God
Thee from all ill defend.

"Oh! let Him help send from above
Out of His sanctuary,
From Sion His own holy hill,
Let Him give strength to thee."

Allison's eyes were open by this time. She seemed to be seeing
something which no one else saw, and a look of peace was on her face,
which Mrs Hume had never seen on it before. "She must have been
dreaming." Then the singing went on:

"Let Him remember all thy gifts,
Accept thy sacrifice,
Grant thee thy heart's wish, and fulfil
Thy thoughts and counsels wise."

And then John's