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soothed and comforted like the voice and touch of a mother。 And
the mountains； too； in all the glory of their varying robes of
blues and purples； stood calmly； solemnly about us； uplifting our
souls into regions of rest。 The changing lights and shadows
flitted swiftly over their rugged fronts； but left them ever as
before in their steadfast majesty。 'God's in His heaven。' What
would you have？ And ever the little river sang its cheerful
courage； fearing not the great mountains that threatened to bar its
passage to the sea。 Mrs。 Mavor heard the song and her courage
rose。
'We too shall find our way；' she said； and I believed her。
But through these days I could not make her out； and I found myself
studying her as I might a new acquaintance。 Years had fallen from
her； she was a girl again； full of young warm life。 She was as
sweet as before； but there was a soft shyness over her； a half…
shamed； half…frank consciousness in her face； a glad light in her
eyes that made her all new to me。 Her perfect trust in Craig was
touching to see。
'He will tell me what to do；' she would say； till I began to
realise how impossible it would be for him to betray such trust；
and be anything but true to the best。
So much did I dread Craig's home…coming； that I sent for Graeme and
old man Nelson； who was more and more Graeme's trusted counsellor
and friend。 They were both highly excited by the story I had to
tell； for I thought it best to tell them all； but I was not a
little surprised and disgusted that they did not see the matter in
my light。 In vain I protested against the madness of allowing
anything to send these two from each other。 Graeme summed up the
discussion in his own emphatic way； but with an earnestness in his
words not usual with him。
'Craig will know better than any of us what is right to do； and he
will do that； and no man can turn him from it； and；' he added； 'I
should be sorry to try。'
Then my wrath rose； and I cried
'It's a tremendous shame！ They love each other。 You are talking
sentimental humbug and nonsense！'
'He must do the right；' said Nelson in his deep； quiet voice。
'Right！ Nonsense！ By what right does he send from him the woman
he loves？'
'〃He pleased not Himself；〃' quoted Nelson reverently。
'Nelson is right；' said Graeme。 'I should not like to see him
weaken。'
'Look here；' I stormed； 'I didn't bring you men to back him up in
his nonsense。 I thought you could keep your heads level。'
'Now； Connor；' said Graeme； 'don't rageleave that for the
heathen； it's bad form； and useless besides。 Craig will walk his
way where his light falls； and by all that's holy； I should hate to
see him fail； for if he weakens like the rest of us my North Star
will have dropped from my sky。'
'Nice selfish spirit；' I muttered。
'Entirely so。 I'm not a saint； but I feel like steering by one
when I see him。'
When after a week had gone； Craig rode up one early morning to his
shack door； his face told me that he had fought his fight and had
not been beaten。 He had ridden all night and was ready to drop
with weariness。
'Connor； old boy；' he said； putting out his hand； 'I'm rather
played。 There was a bad row at the Landing。 I have just closed
poor Colley's eyes。 It was awful。 I must get sleep。 Look after
Dandy； will you； like a good chap？'
'Oh； Dandy be hanged；！' I said； for I knew it was not the fight；
nor the watching； nor the long ride that had shaken his iron nerve
and given him that face。 'Go in and lie down I'll bring you
something。'
'Wake me in the afternoon；' he said； 'she is waiting。 Perhaps you
will go to her'his lips quivered'my nerve is rather gone。'
Then with a very wan smile he added； 'I am giving you a lot of
trouble。'
'You go to thunder！' I burst out； for my throat was hot and sore
with grief for him。
'I think I'd rather go to sleep；' he replied； still smiling。 I
could not speak； and was glad of the chance of being alone with
Dandy。
When I came in I found him sitting with his head in his arms upon
the table fast asleep。 I made him tea； forced him to take a warm
bath； and sent him to bed； while I went to Mrs。 Mavor。 I went with
a fearful heart； but that was because I had forgotten the kind of
woman she was。
She was standing in the light of the window waiting for me。 Her
face was pale but steady； there was a proud light in her fathomless
eyes； a slight smile parted her lips； and she carried her head like
a queen。
'Come in；' she said。 'You need not fear to tell me。 I saw him
ride home。 He has not failed； thank God！ I am proud of him； I
knew he would be true。 He loves me'she drew in her breath
sharply； and a faint colour tinged her cheek'but he knows love is
not allah； love is not all！ Oh！ I am glad and proud！'
'Glad！' I gasped； amazed。
'You would not have him prove faithless！' she said with proud
defiance。
'Oh； it is high sentimental nonsense；' I could not help saying。
'You should not say so；' she replied； and her voice rang clear。
'Honour； faith； and duty are sentiments； but they are not
nonsense。'
In spite of my rage I was lost in amazed admiration of the high
spirit of the woman who stood up so straight before me。 But； as I
told how worn and broken he was； she listened with changing colour
and swelling bosom； her proud courage all gone； and only love；
anxious and pitying； in her eyes。
'Shall I go to him？' she asked with timid eagerness and deepening
colour。
'He is sleeping。 He said he would come to you；' I replied。
'I shall wait for him；' she said softly； and the tenderness in her
tone went straight to my heart； and it seemed to me a man might
suffer much to be loved with love such as this。
In the early afternoon Graeme came to her。 She met him with both
hands outstretched； saying in a low voice
'I am very happy。'
'Are you sure？' he asked anxiously。
'Oh； yes；' she said； but her voice was like a sob； 'quite； quite
sure。'
They talked long together till I saw that Craig must soon be
coming； and I called Graeme away。 He held her hands； looking
steadily into her eyes and said
'You are better even than I thought； I'm going to be a better man。'
Her eyes filled with tears； but her smile did not fade as she
answered
'Yes！ you will be a good man； and God will give you work to do。'
He bent his head over her hands and stepped back from her as from a
queen； but he spoke no word till we came to Craig's door。 Then he
said with humility that seemed strange in him； 'Connor； that is
great； to conquer oneself。 It is worth while。 I am going to try。'
I would not have missed his meeting with Craig。 Nelson was busy
with tea。 Craig was writing near the window。 He looked up as
Graeme came in； and nodded an easy good…evening； but Graeme strode
to him and； putting one hand on his shoulder； held out his other
for Craig to take。
After a moment's surprise； Craig rose to his feet； and； facing him
squarely； took the offered hand in both of his and held it fast
without a word。 Graeme was the first to speak； and his voice was
deep with emotion
'You are a great man； a good man。 I'd give something to have your
grit