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Updated: June 16, 2025
That Elspie should grow old seemed a thing of doubtful future; that she should be ill or die was a thing that never crossed her imagination. And when at last, one year in the fall of the leaf, the hearty and vigorous old woman sickened, and for two or three days did not quit her room, still Olive, though grieving for the moment, never dreamed of any serious affliction.
Elspie Grant had come over to offer sympathy when her sons left her for the battle-field and Mary Lindsay could not rest until she had done the same for her old friend. So as next day was Saturday, Jimmie took her over to Craig-Ellachie in the cutter.
Katie's face flushed. "It's been worn, Elspie," she said; "I had it in a bonnet o' my own. Don't ye remember I wore it to the picnic? an' then it didna suit, an' I put it back in the box. It's not fit for ye. I've a bunch o' lilies o' the valley, better." "No; I'll have this," pursued Elspie. "It's as white's the driven snow, an' not hurt at all.
They have begun to shear to-day, and, as the crop is heavy, they will be glad of your help." Dan went to the field, after visiting Annette Pierre, and lent good assistance to the shearers, but, like Elspie, he found that he had not courage to say anything to Duncan that would indicate his suspicion. He longed to put the question straight to him, but could not prevail on himself to do so.
"It comes from the camp of the Switzers, I think," said Elspie McKay. "I know it," said Jessie Davidson, who was seated on a log beside her friend. "It is Francois La Certe. He came to our meeting-place in Red River, you know, just after Cuthbert Grant and his men left us, and, hearing that we were starting off to Jack River again, he resolved to follow.
The incident of the knife, and of Duncan McKay's significant glance, at once flashed across Davidson's mind, and he felt a terrible sinking of the heart when the suspicion, once before roused within him, seemed now to be confirmed. He resolved, however, to reveal his thoughts to no one specially not to Elspie.
They went into the house, the dogs still bounding joyously about, for they knew that a guest at Craig-Ellachie was a great and glad event and that they must express their joy in a fitting manner. Auntie Elspie was tall and thin and stooped. Her thin fair hair, almost white, was combed up in the fashion that had obtained when she was a girl.
Old McKay was somewhat mollified by her manner, or by the fire, or by the prospect of relief held out, for his tone improved decidedly. "Try the bag again, lass," he said, "maybe you'll find a crumb or two in the corners yet. It will do no harm to try." Obediently poor Elspie tried, but shook her head as she did so. "There's nothing there, daddy. I turned it inside out last time."
But he had saved the Blue Bonnets from destruction, and spared many lives in losing his own. The Aunties held up their poor bowed heads, as Mr. Sinclair read them the splendid story. They knew Gavie would do something great, and it was just the way he would have wished to go, Auntie Elspie said tremulously.
"Are ye countin' too much on yer strength, bairn?" asked the now weeping mother. "I'd rather see ye give way like." "No, no," cried Katie, impatiently. "Each one has his own way, mother; let me have mine. I'll work for Donald and Elspie all I can. Ye know she was always like my own bairn more than a sister. The quicker she comes the better for me, mother. It'll be all over then.
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