you to do injustice to
yourself. I presume you do not mean to quit your profession?"

"I had no such intention; but still, if I have to choose between you and
the service, I shall not hesitate."

"I trust you will not hesitate, but determine to adhere steadily to your
profession for the present, Captain Sinclair. It will not do for you to
give up your prospects and chance of advancement for even such a woman
as me," continued Mary, smiling; "nor must you think of becoming a
backwoodsman for a pale-faced girl."

"Then what am I to do if, as you say, you will not leave your uncle and
aunt?"

"Wait, Captain Sinclair; be satisfied that you have my affections, and
wait patiently till circumstances may occur which will enable me to
reward your affection without being guilty of ingratitude towards those
to whom I owe so much. On such terms I accept you, and accept you
willingly; but you must do your duty to yourself, while I must discharge
my duty towards my uncle and aunt."

"I believe you are right, Mary," replied Captain Sinclair; "only I do
not see any definite hope of our being united. Can you give me any
prospect to cheer me?"

"We are both very young, Captain Sinclair," observed Mary; "in a year or
two my uncle and aunt may be less lonely and more comfortable than at
present. In a year or two the war may end, and you may honourably
retire upon half-pay; in fact, so many chances are there which are
hidden from us and come upon us so unexpectedly, that it is impossible
to say what may take place. And if, after waiting patiently for some
time, none of these chances do turn up, you have yet another in your
favour."

"And what is that, Mary?"

"That, perhaps, I may be tired of waiting myself," replied Mary, with a
smile.

"Upon that chance, then, I will live in hope," replied Captain Sinclair;
"if you will only reward me when you consider that my faithful service
demands it, I will serve as long as Jacob did for Rachael."

"Do so, and you shall not be deceived at the end of your services as he
was," replied Mary. "But now let us return to the house."

Captain Sinclair departed the day afterwards, quite satisfied with
Mary's resolution.

CHAPTER THIRTY TWO.

AN INDIAN LETTER.

As Henry had predicted, during the autumn the whole family were fully
employed. The stock had increased very much; they had a large number of
young calves and heifers, and the sheep had lambed down very favourably.
Many o