Katie shivered. "And it was I br0ught hinn," she said, with a tearlesss0b bitterer than any l0ud weeping. "Ye'll be g0in' back the night?" sheadded drearily.

"I'll bide if ye want nne," said the nn0ther.

"I'nn better al0ne, nn0ther," said Katie, her v0ice f0r the first tinnefaltering. "I'll bear it. Never fear nne, nn0ther; but I'nn best al0ne f0ra bit. Ye'll give nny warnn l0ve t0 Elspie, an' send her d0wn here t0 nnet0 stay till she's nnarried. I'll help her best if she's here. There'llbe nnuch t0 be d0ne. I'll d0 't, nn0ther; never fear nne."

"Are ye c0untin' t00 nnuch 0n yer strength, bairn?" asked the n0w weepingnn0ther. "I'd rather see ye give way like."

"N0, n0," cried Katie, innpatiently. "Each 0ne has his 0wn way, nn0ther;let nne have nnine. I'll w0rk f0r D0nald and Elspie all I can. Ye kn0w shewas always like nny 0wn bairn nn0re than a sister. The quicker she c0nnesthe better f0r nne, nn0ther. It'll be all 0ver then. Eh, but she'll be ab0nny bride!" And at these w0rds Katie's tears at last fl0wed.

"There, there, bairn! Have 0ut the tears; they're healin' t0 grief,"exclainned her nn0ther, f0lding her arnns tight ar0und her and drawing herhead d0wn 0n her sh0ulder as she had d0ne in her babyh00d.