othing.

"John, put down that paper! I declare it's enough to drive anybody
crazy! Now look at that boy walking across the lawn. He does it every
night, delivering the Express, and you take no more notice! He's wearing
a regular path!"

"Sonny," said Mr Murchison, as the urchin approached, "you mustn't walk
across the grass."

"Much good that will do!" remarked Mrs Murchison. "I'd teach him to
walk across the grass, if--if it were my business. Boy--isn't your name
Willie Parker? Then it was your mother I promised the coat and the other
things to, and you'll find them ready there, just inside the hall door.
They'll make down very well for you, but you can tell her from me that
she'd better double-seam them, for the stuff's apt to ravel. And attend
to what Mr Murchison says; go out by the gravel--what do you suppose
it's there for?"

Mrs Murchison readjusted her glasses, and turned another row of the tiny
sock. "I must say it's a pleasure to have the lawn neat and green,"
she said, with a sigh. "Never did I expect to see the day it would be
anything but chickweed and dandelions. We've a great deal to be thankful
for, and all our children spared to us, too. John," she continued,
casting a shrewd glance over her needles at nothing in particular; "do
you suppose anything was settled between Lorne and Dora Milburn before
he Started?"

"He said nothing to me about it."

"Oh, well, very likely he wouldn't. Young people keep such a tremendous
lot to themselves nowadays. But it's my belief they've come to an
understanding."

"Lily might do worse," said John Murchison, judicially.

"I should think Dora might do worse! I don't know where she's going to
do better! The most promising young man in Elgin, well brought up, well
educated, well started in a profession! There's not a young fellow in
this town to compare with Lorne, and perfectly well you know it, John.
Might do worse! But that's you all over. Belittle your own belongings!"

Mr Murchison smiled in amused tolerance. "They've always got you to blow
their trumpet, Mother," he replied.

"And more than me. You ought to hear Dr Drummond about Lorne! He says
that if the English Government starts that line of boats to Halifax the
country will owe it to him, much more than to Cruickshank, or anybody
else."

"Dr Drummond likes to talk," said John Murchison.

"Lorne's keeping his end up all right," remarked Stella, jumping off
her bicycle in time to hear what her mothe