The mother gazed earnestly at Donald.  Could it be that he was so unaware of Katie’s heart?  “Donald,” she said suddenly, “I’ll go down wi’ ye if ye’ll take me.  I’ve been wantin’ to go.  There’s a many things I’ve to do in the town.”

It had suddenly occurred to her that she might thus save Katie the shock of hearing the news first from Donald’s lips.

It was well she did.  When, with stammering lips and she hardly knew in what words, she finally broke it to Katie that Donald had asked Elspie to be his wife, and that Elspie loved him, and they would soon be married, Katie stared into her face for a moment with wide, vacant eyes, as if paralyzed by some vision of terror.  Then, turning white, she gasped out, “Mother!” No word more.  None was necessary.

“Ay, my bairn, I know,” said the mother, with a trembling voice; “an’ I came mysel’ that no other should tell ye.”

A long silence followed, broken only by an occasional shuddering sigh from Katie; not a tear in her eyes, and her cheeks as scarlet as they had been white a few moments before.  The look on her face was terrifying.

“Will it kill ye, bairn?” sobbed the mother at last.  “Don’t look so.  It must be borne, my bairn; it must be borne.”

It was a shrill voice, unlike Katie’s, which replied:  “Ay, I’ll bear it; it must be borne.  There’s none knows it but you, mother,” she added, with a shade of relief in the tone.

“An’ never will if ye’re brave, bairn,” answered the mother.

“It was the day of the picnic,” cried Katie; “was’t not?  I remember he said she was bonny.”

“Ay, ’twas then,” replied the mother, so sorely torn between her love for the two daughters, between whom had fallen this terrible sword.  “Ay, it was then.  He says she has not been out of his mind by the night or by the day since it.”

Katie shivered.  “And it was I brought him,” she said, with a tearless sob bitterer than any loud weeping.  “Ye’ll be goin’ back the night?” she added drearily.

“I’ll bide if ye want me,” said the mother.

“I’m better alone, mother,” said Katie, her voice for the first time faltering.  “I’ll bear it.  Never fear me, mother; but I’m best alone for a bit.  Ye’ll give my warm love to Elspie, an’ send her down here to me to stay till she’s married.  I’ll help her best if she’s here.  There’ll be much to be done.  I’ll do ’t, mother; never fear me.”

“Are ye countin’ too much on yer strength, bairn?” asked the now weeping mother.  “I’d rather see ye give way like.”

“No, no,” cried Katie, impatiently.  “Each one has his own way, mother; let me have mine.  I’ll work for Donald and Elspie all I can.  Ye know she was always like my own bairn more than a sister.  The quicker she comes the better for me, mother.  It’ll be all over then.  Eh, but she’ll be a bonny bride!” And at these words Katie’s tears at last flowed.

“There, there, bairn!  Have out the tears; they’re healin’ to grief,” exclaimed her mother, folding her arms tight around her and drawing her head down on her shoulder as she had done in her babyhood.