She said it over and over
again, repeating that it was better so, and that she was glad and
thankful that all would be so well. But she said it with many a tear
and many a sigh and sob; for, having no experience of life beyond her
long labour and care for them, it seemed to this foolish Shenac that
really and truly her life's work was done. No, she did not say it in
words, even to herself; but the future looked blank and bare to her.
Any future that seemed possible to her looked rather dark than bright;
and she feared--oh, so much!--to take her destiny in her hands and go
away alone.

But not a word of all this had been spoken to Allister and Shenac Dhu.
Not even Hamish had been told of her plans. No, not her plans--she had
none--but the vague blending of wishes and fears that came with all her
thoughts of the future. There would be time enough by-and-by to tell
him; and, indeed, Shenac was a little afraid to let the light of her
brother's sense and wisdom in on all her thoughts. For Hamish had a way
of putting things in a light that made them look quite different.
Sometimes this made her laugh, and sometimes it vexed her; but, whether
or not, the chances were she would come round in time to see things as
he saw them.

And, besides, there was something in this matter that she could not tell
to Hamish--at least, it seemed to her that she could not, even if it
would be right and kind to do so; and without this she feared that her
wish to go away from home might not commend itself to him. Indeed, if
it had not been for this thing which could not be told, she might not
have wished to leave home. She would hardly have found courage to break
away from them all and go to a new, untried life, of her own free will,
even though her work at home were done.

This was the thing which Shenac thought she never could tell even to
Hamish. One night, on her way home from his house, she had been waylaid
by Angus Dhu, and startled out of measure by a request, nay, an
entreaty, that "she would be kind to poor Evan." Then the old man had
gone on to say how welcome she would be if she would come home and be
the daughter of the house when his Shenac went to Allister. He told her
how fondly she should be cherished by them all, and how everything
within and without should be ordered according to her will; for he was
sure that union with one of her firm yet gentle nature was just what was
needed to make a good man of his wayward lad.