"But I think Rosie was his pet. Graeme, don't you mind how he used to
walk up and down the deck, with Rosie in his arms?"
"But that was to rest Graeme," said Harry. "Miss Rosie was a small
tyrant in those days."
Rosie shook her head at him.
"Eh! wasna she a cankered fairy?" said Norman, taking Rosie's fair face
between his hands. "Graeme had enough ado with you, I can tell you."
"And with you, too. Never heed him, Rosie," said Graeme, smiling at her
darling.
"I used to admire Graeme's patience on the `Steadfast'," said Harry.
"I did that before the days of the `Steadfast,'" said Arthur.
Rosie pouted her pretty lips.
"I must have been an awful creature."
"Oh! awful," said Norman.
"A spoilt bairn, if ever there was one," said Harry. "I think I see you
hiding your face, and refusing to look at any of us."
"I never thought Graeme could make anything of you," said Norman.
"Graeme has though," said the elder sister, laughing. "I wouldna give
my bonny Scottish Rose, for all your western lilies, Norman."
And so they went on, jestingly.
"Menie," said Arthur, suddenly, "what do you see in the fire?"
Menie was gazing with darkening eyes, in among the red embers. She
started when her brother spoke.
"I see--Oh! many things. I see our old garden at home,--in Clayton, I
mean--and--"
"It must be an imaginary garden, then. I am sure you canna mind that."
"Mind it! indeed I do. I see it as plainly as possible, just as it used
to be. Only somehow, the spring and summer flowers all seem to be in
bloom together. I see the lilies and the daisies, and the tall white
rose-bushes blossoming to the very top."
"And the broad green walk," said Harry.
"And the summer-house."
"And the hawthorn hedge."
"And the fir trees, dark and high."
"And the two apple trees."
"Yes,--the tree of life, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil,
I used to think them," said Norman.
"And I, too," said Menie. "Whenever I think of the garden of Eden, I
fancy it like our garden at home."
"Your imagination is not very brilliant, if you can't get beyond _that_
for Paradise," said Arthur, laughing.
"Well, maybe not, but I always do think of it so. Oh! it was a bonny
place. I wish I could see it again."
"Well, you must be ready to go home with me, in a year or two," said
Norman. "You needna laugh, Graeme, I am going home as soon as I get
rich."
"In a year or two! you're nae blate!"
"Oh! we winna need a great fortune, to go home for a visit. We'll come
back again. It will be time enough to make our fortune then. So be
ready, Menie, when I come for you."
"Many a thing may happen, before a year or two," said Marian, gravely.
"Many a thing, indeed," said Graeme and Norman, in a breath. But while
Graeme gazed with sudden gravity into her sister's flushed face, Norman
added, laughingly.
"I shouldn't wonder but you would prefer another escort, before that
time comes. I say, Menie, did anybody ever tell you how bonny you are
growing?"
Menie laughed, softly.
"Oh! yes. Emily told me when she came home; and so did Harry. And you
have told me so yourself to-day, already."
"You vain fairy! and do you really think you're bonny?"
"Janet says, I'm like Aunt Marian, and she was bonnier even than mamma."
"Like Aunt Marian!" Graeme remembered Janet's words with a pang. But
she strove to put the thought from her; and with so many bright faces
round her, it was not difficult to do to-night. Surely if Marian were
ill, and in danger, the rest would see it too. And even Janet's anxiety
had been at rest for a while. Menie was better now. How merry she had
been with her brothers for the last few days. And though she seemed
very weary to-night, no wonder. So were they all. Even Rosie, the
tireless, was half asleep on Arthur's knee, and when all the pleasant
bustle was over, and they were settled down in their old quiet way, her
sister would be herself again. Nothing so terrible could be drawing
near, as the dread which Janet had startled herewith that day.
"Emily," said Harry, "why do you persist in going back to that horrid
school? Why don't you stay at home, and enjoy yourself?"
"I'm not going to any horrid school," said Emily.
"You can't make me believe that you would rather be at school than at
home, doing as you please, and having a good time with Rose and Menie
here."
Emily laughed. "I would like that; but I like going back to school
too."
"But you'll be getting so awfully wise that there will be no talking to
you, if you stay much longer."
"In that case, it might do you good to listen," said Emily, laughing.
"But you are altogether too wise already," Harry persisted. "I really
am quite afraid to open my lips in your presence."
"We have all been wondering at your strange silence, and lamenting it,"
said Arthur.
"But, indeed, I must have a word with the deacon about it," said Harry.
"I can't understand how he has allowed it so long already. I must bring
my influence to bear on him."
"You needn't," said Emily. "I have almost prevailed upon Graeme, to let
Menie go back with me. There will be two learned ladies then."
Graeme smiled, and shook her head.
"Not till summer. We'll see what summer brings. Many things may happen
before summer," she added, gravely.
They all assented gravely too, but not one of them with any anxious
thought of trouble drawing near. They grew quiet after that, and each
sat thinking, but it was of pleasant things mostly; and if on anyone
there fell a shadow for a moment, it was but with the thought of the
morrow's parting, and never with the dread that they might not all meet
on earth again.