uld ne'er cross."

Donald no longer pressed that matter, and was content with the full
permission Janet gave him to accept Mr Todd's offer, provided Margaret,
on her return home, did not object. The young lady soon arrived, and,
to Janet's surprise, entered at once warmly into Donald's projects.

That evening, as the family knelt down in prayer, Janet earnestly lifted
up her voice in a petition that her bairn might be directed aright, and
protected amid the dangers to which he would be exposed.

The next day, before returning to Mr Todd, Donald consulted his kind
master, who advised him to accept the offer, and put him in the way of
obtaining the instruction he required.

Janet, who had never allowed her charge to discover the means she
employed for obtaining their support, told him to set his mind at rest
about his outfit, which it had naturally occurred to him he should have
a difficulty in obtaining. She at once went to Mr McTavish, who had
continued her firm friend. "An excellent opening for the lad," he
answered. "I should be glad to help him, and let him come and shake me
by the hand before he starts."

Margaret, who besides obtaining many other female accomplishments from
Mrs Galbraith, had learned to use her needle, had ample employment in
manufacturing various articles of dress from the cloth Janet from time
to time brought home with her. Mrs Galbraith, knowing how she was
occupied, begged her to return home each day at an early hour that she
might assist Janet, assuring her that she could readily spare her
services. How eagerly Janet and Margaret sat and stitched away,
allowing themselves but a short time for meals. They were determined to
save expense, by making all Donald's underclothing themselves. Mr
McTavish had desired Janet to let him order what outer clothing he
required at the tailors, with a promise that he would see to the
payment.

Donald meantime attended assiduously to his studies to prepare himself
for the work he was expected to perform, so that he was longer absent
from home than usual every day. His studies were congenial to his
taste, and he entered into them with the more zeal that they were
preparing him for the real work of life in which he had so long wished
to engage.

David was always studious; and now that he had less of Donald's society,
who was apt, when he could, to entice him out to join in the sports in
which he himself delighted, he had more time than ever to at