erness that it impressed me, and the more
that I saw what a change took place directly in Mr John's countenance,
ending by his looking down at the letter he held in his hand.

"Ah," he exclaimed, "what a miserable dreamer I am! Always the same!
Mayne, my boy," he added, piteously, "you must not listen to me. I
cannot even help myself, and here am I talking to you in this vain,
foolish way."

He let his head drop into his hands, and sat bent down till Mrs John
went to his side.

"Don't give way," I heard her whisper; "it was your good heart that
spoke."

"My good heart," he said piteously--"no, my weak, foolish, dreaming
brain. It was always so, and I have brought you down to poverty like
this."

She bent lower, and whispered a few words which seemed quite to
transform him.

"Yes," he cried, with his face flushing, "I am always ungrateful, and
letting present troubles set benefits aside. Mayne, my boy, I wanted
you to come and see us. I told you that we were going abroad--for my
wife's health--I might say for my own," he added, with a smile, "for I
am no use here in England."

"And you are going, sir?" I said, glad to find that the conversation
was changing.

"Yes; to join my dear wife's brother. He has sent us an invitation. He
thinks I might like the life out there, and he is sure that it will give
renewed health to his sister."

"I am very glad, sir," I said, holding out my hands to both, "and--very
sorry."

"To lose _us_," said Mr John. "Yes; now we are getting to know each
other so well, it will be painful."

"Are you going to Canada, sir?" I said, hastily, for the idea of losing
almost my only friends chilled me.

"To Canada first, then on by slow degrees to the great North-West. My
brother-in-law--did I not tell you?"

I shook my head.

"He is in the service of the Hudson's Bay Company, chief at one of their
stations in British Columbia."

"British Columbia!" I exclaimed.

"Yes. What do you know of the country?"

"Nothing, sir, only that one of Mr Dempster's men has a brother there.
But it is a rough place, wild, and there are forests. Mrs John could
not go there."

"No place could be rough or wild to me, Mayne," she said, smiling, "if I
could find health and strength."

"And you will there, dear," cried Mr John excitedly. "Your brother
says the country is lovely, and that the slow waggon journey across,
though rough, will be invigorating. It will take many months, Mayne