ened her shop, and waited
for customers. Pleasure and surprise at her reappearance brought
the old ones quickly back. She was friendly and helpful to them as
before; but the slightest approach to inquiry as to where she had
been or what she had been doing, she met with simple obstinate
silence. Gibbie's bounty and her faithful abstinence enabled her to
add to her stock and extend her trade. By and by she had the
command of a little money; and when in the late autumn there came a
time of scarcity and disease, she went about among the poor like a
disciple of Sir Gibbie. Some said that, from her knowledge of their
ways, from her judgment, and by her personal ministration of what,
for her means, she gave more bountifully than any, she did more to
hearten their endurance, than all the ladies together who
administered money subscribed. It came to Sir Gibbie's ears, and
rejoiced his heart: his old friend was on the King's highway still!
In the mean time she saw nothing of him. Not once did he pass her
shop, where often her mental, and not unfrequently her bodily,
attitude was that of a watching lover. The second day, indeed, she
saw him at a little distance, and sorely her heart smote her, for
one of his hands was in a sling; but he crossed to the other side,
plainly to avoid her. She was none the less sure, however, that
when she asked him he would forgive her; and ask him she would, as
soon as she had satisfactory proof of repentance to show him.

CHAPTER LX.

ARRANGEMENT AND PREPARATION.

The next morning, the first thing after breakfast, Mr. Sclater,
having reflected that Ginevra was under age and they must be
careful, resumed for the nonce, with considerable satisfaction, his
office of guardian, and holding no previous consultation with
Gibbie, walked to the cottage, and sought an interview with Mr.
Galbraith, which the latter accorded with a formality suitable to
his idea of his own inborn grandeur. But his assumption had no
effect on nut-headed Mr. Sclater, who, in this matter at all events,
was at peace with his conscience.

"I have to inform you, Mr. Galbraith," he began, "that Miss
Galbraith--"

"Oh!" said the laird, "I beg your pardon; I was not aware it was my
daughter you wished to see."

He rose and rang the bell. Mr. Sclater, annoyed at his manner, held
his peace.

"Tell your mistress," said the laird, "that the Rev. Mr. Sclater
wishes to see her."

The girl returned with a scare