ar. But she did not dream of it then, nor did Shenac.
He watched with wistful eyes the little figure dancing over the field
and down the road, saying softly as she disappeared,--

"I would like to live a little while, for their sakes."

Shenac did not catch the true sense of his words, and mistaking him, she
said eagerly,--

"Ah, yes, if we could manage it--you and Flora and I. Allister might
have the lads; he will make men of them. I am not wise enough nor
patient enough. But you and Flora and I--it would be so nice for us to
live together till we grow old." And Shenac cast longing looks towards
the little log-house where they had lived so long and so happily.

But Hamish shook his head. "I doubt it can never be, my Shenac."

"No, I suppose not," said Shenac, with a sigh; "for Allister is to take
down the old house--the dear old shelter--to make the garden larger. He
is an ambitious lad, our Allister," she added laughing, "and means to
have a place worthy of the chief of the clan. But, somewhere and some
time, we'll have a wee house together, Hamish--you and I and Flora.
Don't shake your wise head, lad. There is nothing that may not happen--
some time.

"Do you remember, Hamish," she continued (and her voice grew low and
awed as she said it)--"do you remember the night you were so ill? I did
not say it to you, but I feared that night that you were going to die,
and I said to myself, if God would spare you to my prayers, I would
never doubt nor despond again; I would trust God always. And I will."

"But, Shenac, what else could you do but trust God if I were to die?"
asked her brother gravely. "My living or dying would make no difference
as to that."

"But, Hamish, that is not what I mean. It may seem a bold thing to say,
but I think God heard my prayer that night, and spared you to us; and it
would seem so wrong, so ungrateful, to doubt now. All will be for the
best now, I am sure, now that he has raised you up again."

"For a little while," said Hamish softly. "But, Shenac, all will be for
the best, whether I live or die. You do not need me to tell you that, I
am sure."

"But you _are_ better," said Shenac eagerly, a vague trouble stirring at
her heart.

"Surely I am better. But that is not the question. I want you to say
to me that you will trust and not be afraid even if I were to die,
Shenac, my darling. Think where your peace and strength come from,
think of Him in whom you trust; a