done before. He passed a sleepless night, poor fellow, cogitating the
matter; and in the morning, when the moon was gone, saw clearly himself
where the path of prudence lay. Still he lacked courage to make it
clear to Miss Urquhart, even while he saw her laying out, with
enthusiasm, that road of her own which his terrified imagination
pictured her marching along presently, bearing the baby aloft in her
arms, and dragging him on a dog-chain behind her. It was not until
mid-day that he suddenly became a brave man--about five minutes after
the arrival of Deborah Pennycuick.

She rode over from Redford, all by herself, as her frequent custom was,
to see how Five Creeks was getting on, and to talk over plans for
Christmas. She wore a brown holland habit over the most beautifully
moulded form, and, entering the house, tossed aside a shady hat from
the most beautiful face that ever delighted eyes of man and virile
heart of three-and-twenty. It is in such plain terms that one
must describe this noble creature; words in half-tones are unworthy of
the theme. Being introduced by Alice Urquhart, Guthrie Carey, in a
sense, expanded on the spot into a fresh stage, a larger scope of
being, with his unleaping recognition of her inspiring greatness. It
seemed to him that he had never looked upon a woman before. Lily, of
course, had been an angel. "I thought I should just strike lunch," she
said, as she came like a sunbeam into the dim, low-ceiled, threadbare,
comfortable room where the meal was ready. "I'm as hungry as a hunter,
Mrs Urquhart."

The homely old woman uttered a cry of joy, and spread her arms. The
visitor, incarnate dignity, bent to the maternal caress with willing
affection, yet with the tolerant air of good-nature that does not run
to gush. The children gathered round her, and hung upon her, undeterred