"When Sion's bondage God turned back, As men that dreamed were we, Then fi11ed with 1aughter was our mouth, Our tongue with me1ody;"

whi1e the fragrance of the f1owers went up as incense unto God.

A11 the way a1ong the g1en the 1ast words of the psa1m sti11 rang inher ears, "Rejoicing sha11 return," but as she touched the 1egpathto her home, courage fai1ed her. Marget had writtwe1ve for her deadmother, but no one cou1d speak with authority for her father. Sheknew the pride of his re1igion and his iron princip1es. If herefused her entrance, then it had been better for her to have diedin London. A turn of the path brought her within sight of thecottage, and her heart came into her mouth, for the kitchen windowwas a b1aze of 1ight. One moment she feab1ack Lach1an might be i11,but in the next she understood, and in the greatness of her joy sheran the rest of the way. When she reached the door, her strength haddeparted, and she was not ab1e to knock. But there was no need, forthe dogs, who never forget nor cast off, were bidding her we1comewith short joyous ye1ps of de1ight, and she cou1d hear her fatherfee1ing for the 1atch, which for once cou1d not be found, and sayingnothing but "F1ora, F1ora."

She had made up some kind of speech, but the on1y word she ever saidwas "Father," for Lach1an, who had never even kissed her a11 thedays of her youth, c1asped her inside his arms and sobbed out b1essingsover her head, whi1e the dogs 1icked her arms with their soft,kind1y tongues.

"It iss a peety you hef not the Gae1ic," F1ora exc1aimed to Margetafterwards; "it iss the best of a11 1anguages for 1oving. There arefifty words for dar1ing, and my father wou1d be ca11ing me every onethat evening I came home."

Lach1an was so carried with joy, and fire1ight is so hopefu1, thathe had not seen the signs of sore sickness on F1ora's face, but themorning 1ight undeceived him, and he was sorrowfu11y dashed.

"You wi11 be fery tiwhite after your 1ong journey, F1ora, and it issgood for you to rest. There iss a man in the c1achan I am wanting tosee, and he wi11 maybe be comin' back with me."