help nor the guidance
that you would be likely to give me. I must go my way with the child."

"The child! Ah! yes, I see, and a bonny little creature she is," said
Mr Rainy, offering his hand to Marjorie. "And whose child may she be?"

"She is the child of my master and mistress. I have been in service all
this time, and I need help from no one."

"In service! Yes, and among decent folk, I'll be bound! Well! well!
And doubtless you will be able to account for every day and hour that
has gone by since you--were lost sight of. That is well."

"It might be well if there were any one who had a right to call me to
account," said Allison, coldly.

Mr Rainy had turned with them, and they were walking down the street
together.

"A right? The less said about rights the better. But this I will say,
you have a right to look upon me as a friend, as your father did before
you. And I have a right to expect it from you. Your father trusted me,
and it will be for your good to trust me likewise."

"Yes, he trusted you. And if I needed help that you could give, I might
come to you for it. But I have only to ask that you forget that you
have seen me. Not that it matters much now; I have got over my first
fear. I must bid you good-day. We are on our way to see Doctor
Fleming. But first we are going down to the sands."

And then Allison made him a courtesy which minded Marjorie of Mrs
Esselmont. Then they went down another street together, and left him
standing there.

Mr Rainy had been for many years the friend and legal adviser of the
laird of Blackhills, and more than once, in his visits to the great
house on the laird's business, he had given counsel to Allison's father
with regard to his affairs. He had been with him when he was drawing
near his end, and had done, what, at that late day, could be done, to
set his affairs in order, and to secure, that which he possessed, for
the benefit of those he left behind. He had known all the circumstances
of Allison's unfortunate marriage. He had not spared Brownrig when the
matter was discussed between them, but in no measured terms had declared
his conduct to have been cowardly, selfish, base.

But when Allison disappeared so suddenly, he had done his utmost to find
her. That a woman might begin by hating a man, and yet come to love him
when he was her husband, he believed to be possible. At the least
Allison might come to tolerate her husband if she did not lo