ghly," he said; "and I'd
give--I'd give--"

"There, for goodness' sake, stop, and let's hear no more of it. I can't
and won't marry you--it 'd be too slow. I don't want to live on the
other side of the ranges all the rest of my life. If I 've got to live
here at all, this is the nicest side, and I 've Lydia and the children
for company, to say nothing of papa and the boys--besides, you 'll come
over sometimes."

"I shan't," he said, sullenly, "I shan't. If you don't take me, I 'll
not come here to be made a fool of. I shan't come again."

"Don't talk nonsense," she said calmly; "you will; you 'll forget all
this rubbish, and be my own dear old Tom again. I should miss you so
dreadfully if I didn't see you three or four times a week."

A gleam of hope Hashed into his sad brown eyes, and passionate words
of love and tenderness trembled on his lips, but, for once in his
love-making, he was wise, and turning, gazed silently down the gully
again. She would miss him--very well then, she should; he would go away,
and not come back for a month at least. The only fear was lest in the
meantime some one else might not woo and win her. Those brothers of hers
were always bringing some fellow to the house. However--

A bell inside rang furiously, and five boys and girls, ranging between
the ages of twelve and three, came racing in from all corners of the
garden. Bessie rose from her chair, and shook out her skirts.

"That's tea," she said; "you won't mind a nursery tea with the children,
will you? Lydia and I always have it when papa's away. The Campbell
girls are here too. Harry, you know, is very much in love with Dora,
and, like a good sister, I 'm helping on the match. Aren't you coming?"

He had intended to decline, but she put her hand on his arm in the old
familiar way, and he weakly gave in.

"Aren't you dull, all you women alone?" he asked.

"No, sir, of course not; besides, they 'll all be home to-morrow for
Christmas."

"They 've at Kara, aren't they?"

"Yes, that bothering old Wilson always has a muster at the most
inconvenient times. They want to be home, of course, so they Ve taken
every man on the place to help. Dick, at the mature age of ten, is our
sole male protector."

"They can be back to-morrow, though?"

"Oh, yes; they Ve bound to be here pretty early too. It's Christmas Day,
you know--at least--. Why, what was that?"

She paused on the doorstep and listened.

"Some one coming into the yard,"