"Na, na, missie! ye canna see her," said the girl; "she's no in
sicht. She's ower ayont there. Only gien we war up whaur ye see
yon twa three sheep again' the lift (sky), we cud see the bit hoosie
whaur her an' my father bides."

"How I should like to see your father and mother, Nicie!" exclaimed
Ginevra.

"Weel, I'm sure they wad be richt glaid to see yersel', missie, ony
time 'at ye likit to gang an' see them."

"Why shouldn't we go now, Nicie? It's not a dangerous place, is
it?"

"No, missie. Glashgar's as quaiet an' weel-behaved a hill as ony in
a' the cweentry," answered Nicie, laughing. "She's some puir, like
the lave o' 's, an' hasna muckle to spare, but the sheep get a feow
nibbles upon her, here an' there; an' my mither manages to keep a
coo, an' get plenty o' milk frae her tee."

"Come, then, Nicie. We have plenty of time. Nobody wants either
you or me, and we shall get home before any one misses us."

Nicie was glad enough to consent; they turned at once to the hill,
and began climbing. But Nicie did not know this part of it nearly
so well as that which lay between Glashruach and the cottage, and
after they had climbed some distance, often stopping and turning to
look down on the valley below, the prospect of which, with its
streams and river, kept still widening and changing as they
ascended, they arrived at a place where the path grew very doubtful,
and she could not tell in which of two directions they ought to go.

"I'll take this way, and you take that, Nicie," said Ginevra, "and
if I find there is no path my way, I will come back to yours; and if
you find there is no path your way, you will come back to mine."

It was a childish proposal, and one to which Nicie should not have
consented, but she was little more than a child herself. Advancing
a short distance in doubt, and the path re-appearing quite plainly,
she sat down, expecting her little mistress to return directly. No
thought of anxiety crossed her mind: how should one, in broad
sunlight, on a mountain-side, in the first of summer, and with the
long day before them? So, there sitting in peace, Nicie fell into a
maidenly reverie, and so there Nicie sat for a long time, half
dreaming in the great light, without once really thinking about
anything. All at once she came to herself: some latent fear had
exploded in her heart: yes! what could have become of her little
mistress? She jumped to her feet, and shouted "Missie