r."

"In winter," said Mhor, "the sky should always be grey. It's more
suitable."

"What a couple of ungrateful creatures you are," Jean said; "I'm ashamed
of you. And as it happens you are going to have a great treat because of
the good day. I didn't tell you because I thought it would very likely
pour. Cousin Lewis said if it was a good day he would send the car to
take us to Laverlaw to luncheon. It's really because of Pamela; she has
never been there. So you must ask to get away at twelve, Jock, and I'll
go up with Pamela and collect Mhor."

Mhor at once left the table and, without making any remark, stood on
his head on the hearthrug. Thus did his joy find vent. Jock, on the
other hand, seemed more solemnised than gleeful.

"That's the first time I've ever had a prayer answered," he announced.
"I couldn't do my Greek last night, and I prayed that I wouldn't be at
the class--and I won't be. Gosh, Maggie!"

"Oh, Jock," his sister protested, "that's not what prayers are for."

"Mebbe not, but I've managed it this time," and, unrepentant, Jock
started on another slice of bread and butter.

Jean told Pamela of Jock's prayer as they went together to fetch Mhor
from school.

"But Mhor is a much greater responsibility than Jock. You know where you
are with Jock: underneath is a bedrock of pure goodness. You see, we
start with the enormous advantage of having had forebears of the very
decentest--not great, not noble, but men who feared God and honoured the
King--men who lived justly and loved mercy. It would be most uncalled
for of us to start out on bypaths with such a straight record behind us.
But Mhor, bless him, is different. I haven't a notion what went to the
making of him. I seem to see behind him a long line of men and women who
danced and laughed and gambled and feasted, light-hearted, charming
people. I sometimes think I hear them laugh as I teach Mhor _What is the
chief end of man?_ ... I couldn't love Mhor more if he really were my
little brother, but I know that my hold over him is of the frailest.
It's only now that I have him. I must make the most of the present--the
little boy days--before life takes him away from me."

"You will have his heart always," Pamela comforted her. "He won't
forget. He has been rooted and grounded in love."

Jean winked away the tears that had forced their way into her eyes, and
laughed.

"I'm bringing him up a Presbyterian. I did try him with the Creed. He
listened