Who was Lost and is Found

arth, and affected every channel in which the thoughts of a silent much-reasoning creature can flow: and at the same time much acquaintance with a crowd of small human events making up th

he village it would be difficult to tell. She was not a person of noted family or territorial importance, which is a thing which tells for so much in Scotland. Perhaps it was chiefly because, since the great misfortune of her life, she had retired greatly from the observation of the parish, paying no visits, seeing only the people who went to see her, and as for her own affairs confiding in nobody, asking no sympathy—too proud in her love and sorrow even to allow that she was stricken, or that the dearest object of her life was the occasion of all her

years, and inflicting a new and alien sway upon his big boys and his little girls, all flourishing under the cheerful sovereignty of Susie, was such an idea as naturally convulsed the parish from one end to the other. And there was little doubt that this was the question it was intended to discuss, when two or three of these ladies met without concert or premeditation in the afternoon at the Hewan; and Janet, half proud of the concourse, half angry at the trouble involved, had to spend all the warm afternoon serving the tea. If such was the purpose, however, it was entirely foiled by the unlooked-for appearance of a lady not at all like the ladies of Eskholm—a stranger,{36} with what was considered to be a strongly marked “English accent,” the very person who was believed to have led the minister as

me here thinking of nothing, meaning to spend six weeks, or at the most two months. And lo! this little country retreat, as we thought it,

a number of d

y. This was what it was to be English, to have a house in London, to move about the world, to introduce your girls and have them properly appreciated. How can you do that in a small country place? Some of these ladies were grandmothers too, and no older than Mrs Ainslie, but not one of them could have succeed

ng—just for a few weeks in the summer: and here she is happily married! and, for all I know, I may spend the rest of my life in the place. She i

the least assistance. They were fascinated by the confidence of the stranger, her pleasure

y sons-in-law adore their wives—and me. Now, I think that is a triumph. They are all fond

mewhat grimly, “that, as we say in this country, a’

d an imitation which had a very irritating effect on the listeners.

utting the vowel to rights. “We do not alwa

s herself agreeable—with no

a whillie-wha

ay, with a face like a fiddle

Oh, how am I to understand so much Sc

ed to mention him! in the face of all tho

If he were only not so weighed down with these children. Dear Mrs Ogilvy, don’t you think it is dreadful to see a poor man so burden

ee that at all,” cried one. “He has Susie,” cried two or three together. “And where c

urning fiery looks toward the interloper, the door opened quietly, without any preliminary bell or even knock at the door, and Susie Logan herself—Susie, in behalf of whom they were all so ready to do{40} battle—walked quietly in. Susie herself was quite calm, perfectly

ry. Susie was very familiar at the Hewan—she was like the daughter of the house. She stopped short at the door and looked round, too

scussing,” the ladies hastened to say, one taking the word from another. Mrs Ogilvy held out her hand without moving. “Come in, c

. She alone got up and took the girl in her arms. “How glad I sh

it was me this lady was glad to see. As we are talking of marriages, I would like to know if anybody can tell me about that big lassie Thoma

parish as a more important alliance could have been. And under the shelter of this new inquiry most of the guests stole away. Mrs Ainslie h

ur. She freed herself from the embrace with a little

iends, should yield to old friends,” she said, with a little sigh and smile. She made a very graceful exit considering all things, and Susie’s presence preven

this time? I saw they were stopped by me. It was not that old business,” said Su

hs before you came in. She is a very wyss-like woman, though her manners are strange to m

sion not to like

g that. Do you l

began to laugh.

ike ye, Do

n why I c

le too kind, to me—I am not fond of all that kissing—but it is pe

e is maybe well enough i

than that; and papa thinks there is nobod

has an opinion

the end of it. It was all so nice, and so little trouble, and no fuss, and no expense, and so forth. How can he tell it was no expense?—all the things were sent out from Edinburgh!” said Susi

of bread-and-butter in a strange place they will take for a

mind. Now, just you lean back in your big chair and be quiet a litt

e. I like to take it from your

never left her home, and though she was full of experience, she retained all the freshness and openness of youth. Her hazel eyes were limpid and mildly bright; her features good if not remarkable; her colour fresh as a summer morning. Nowhere could she go without carrying a sense of youth and life with her; and here in this still existence at the Hewan amon

, but which swallowed amid a crowd of visitors fulfils neither purpose: and then she seated herself by

g particular to s

pa would get them a governess I would be thankful. They mean no harm, the little{45} things; but the weather is warm and

ttle too much for you—that is

never in my head. I may grumble a little, half in fun; but too much for me, Mrs Ogilvy!

; he just maintained it to my face that it was too m

pright on her chair. A shadow came over her brightness. “Oh

ing of a governess for

laugh, “I heard that woman—no, no, I never meant to speak of her so—I heard Mrs Ainslie saying to

ve no ill motive: you must not ta

ts me out of my senses; and always pitying me that want none of her pity! It must be kindness, I suppose,” said Susie, grudgingly; “but then I wish she would not be so kind.” After this there was a pause. The talk came to

word?” she rather

one, not one!” the

utburst of silent tears, sobbing a little, like a child. Mrs Ogilvy shed no tear. She patted the bowed head softly

she said, with an attempt at a smile; “or why should I cry like that?{47} It is ju

Mrs Ogilvy said; “to-morrow, an

ain herself, “But he’ll come back—I’m just as sure Robbie will come back! He will give you no war

think myself,”

he silence the click of the gate and the sound of a step. And they both