her, but that mood had passed apparently for ever, and now she appeared rather to chafe under obligations which Teen felt also, though in a different way, love having made them sweet.  For the first time in her life she felt herself shrinking inwardly from the friend she had always loved since the days when they had played together, ragged, unkempt little girls, in the city streets.  She looked at the brilliant beauty of her face.  She saw it marred by a certain hardness of expression, a selfish, discontented look, which can rob the beauty from the loveliest face, and her heart sank within her, because she seemed dimly to foresee the end.  The little seamstress did not know the meaning of a lost ideal, the probability is that she had never heard the word, but she felt all of a sudden, standing there in the May sunshine, that something had gone out of her life for ever.  That very night she spoke to Gladys, seizing a favourable opportunity, when Liz had gone to enjoy a gossip with that garrulous person, Mrs. Macintyre, at the lodge.

‘I say, Miss Gladys, hae ye noticed onything aboot Liz this day or twa?’ she queried anxiously.

‘Nothing,’ replied Gladys blithely, ’except that she looks more and more like a new creature.  Have you noticed anything?’

‘Naething very particular; but I am feared that she’s wearyin’ here, an’ that she wants to get away back to Glesca,’ said Teen, with a slight hesitation, it must be told, since such an insinuation appeared to savour of the deepest ingratitude.

’Oh, do you think so?  I thought she was quite happy.  She certainly looks much brighter and better, and feels so, I hope.’

’Oh yes, she’s better; that’s the reason, I suppose.  She was aye active an’ energetic, Liz,’ said Teen, feeling impelled to make some kind of excuse for her old chum.  ’We’ve been here twa weeks; maybe it’s time we left?’

’Oh, nonsense!  What is two weeks?  Suppose you stayed here all summer, what would it be?  Nothing at all.  But what do you think Lizzie has in her mind?  Has she anything in view in Glasgow?’

‘They’d be clever that fathomed her mind; it’s as deep as the sea,’ said Teen, with an involuntary touch of bitterness, for she could not help feeling that her faithful love and service had met with but a poor return.

’She can’t think we will allow her to go back to Glasgow without knowing what she is going to do; we had too much anxiety on her account before,’ said Gladys, with decision.  ’There is no doubt her brother’s house is the place for her.  I must talk to her myself.’

‘Dinna dae’t the nicht, Miss Gladys, or she’ll think I’ve been tellin’ on her,’ suggested the little seamstress.  ’Liz is very touchy aboot a lot o’ things.’