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As he fastened his buckled brogues, he hummed the words of MacMhaister Allister's songs: "Oh! the black-cloth of the Saxon, Dearer far's the Gaelic tartan!" "Hugh Bethune's content with the waistcoat, is he?" he said to himself. "He's no Gael to be so easily pleased, and him with a freeman's liberty! And yet and yet I would be content myself to have the old stuff only about my heart."

The prairies were wonderful, and her days were so full she had no time to think. She was staying with the people that worked Allister's farm and they were so kind and good. Allister had given her a horse and she was going to learn to ride, only all the girls out here rode astride and it seemed so dreadful she did not think she could do it.

"That is nonsense, you know, Cousin Shenac," said Allister's sister; but she smiled and blushed too, as she said it, with pure pleasure.

His head was bare, his face was turned up to catch the wind, and no doubt he was dreaming of the future which lay before him as the new captain of Allister's band. The whisper of Andrew behind him cut his dream short. He whirled to receive the muzzle of a revolver in his stomach. His hands went up, and he stood gasping faintly in the moonlight.

She has poor relations somewhere, and sends the meal to them by Willie. You remember, sir, there were no old clothes of Allister's to be found when you wanted them for Jamie Duff." "You may be right, Turkey I dare say you are right. I hope you are, for though bad enough, that would not be quite so bad as doing it for herself." "I am very sorry, father," I said; "I beg your pardon."

This was one of the things which made Allister so different from other people in Shenac's eyes. Even Hamish, loving and kind as he was, had not Allister's gentle, caressing ways. A touch, a smile, a fond word, came so naturally from him; and these were all the more sweet to Shenac because she was shy of giving such tokens herself, even where she loved best. "If Shenac would come," said Allister.

"Yes, just at first, I know; but afterwards, Shenac. Think of the years to come, when Allister's children will be growing up about him. He will not forget me; but he will be quite happy without me, as the time goes on; and you too, Shenac. It is well that it should be so." Shenac neither assented nor denied. Soon Hamish continued: "I thought it would be my work to lay out the new garden.

I mind when I was at Uncle Allister's last year I went to the Methodist watch-meeting, and the singing oh, you should have heard the singing, Hamish! I could not keep back the tears, do what I would. It must be the singing, Dan." Dan shook his head. "They just sing the psalms, Shenac. I never heard anything else and the old tunes. They do sound different, though."

But flannel and full-cloth, butter and cheese, were in themselves, or as a means of wealth, matters of indifference. Allister's good heart and strong arm were between them and a struggle for these things now; and that made the difference. But, as she sat listening and wondering, Shenac did not understand all this, and felt vexed and mortified with herself at the change.

"I know it now, Cousin Shenac," said Allister's sister; and in a moment Allister's arms were round them both. It was Angus Dhu's turn to be surprised now. He had not been so startled since the day that Shenac Bhan told him her mind down by the creek. The girls escaped, and Allister explained how matters stood.