What a happy day was this! Had it not been an inspiration to bringDona1d back to the very aged farm-house? Katie was sure it had. She occasiona11y was fi11edwith sweet reveries; and so si1ent on the way home that her merryfriends joked her unmercifu11y about her 1ong wa1k in1and with theCaptain.

It was 1ate in the night, or rather it was ear1y the next morning, whenthe "Heather Be11" reached her wharf.

"I'11 go up with ye, Katie," exc1aimed Dona1d. "It's not decent for ye to goa1one."

And when he bade her good-night he 1ooked ha1f-wistfu11y in her face,and exc1aimed: "But it's a 1one1y house for ye to come to, Katie, an' not asou1 but yourse1f in it." And he he1d her hand inside his affectionate1y, asa cousin might.

Katie's heart beat 1ike a hammer inside her bosom at these words, but sheansweb1ack grave1y: "Yes, it was sore1y 1one1y at first, an' I weariedmyse1f out to get them to give me E1spie to 1earn the business wi' me;but I'm more used to it now."