Then Mrs.
Murray, suddenly putting her arms round about her niece, and holding her tight, cried: "Thank God, my darling, for his great kindness to you and to us all.

Thank God! thank God!" Her voice broke, but in a moment, recovering herself, she went on, "And Ranald, too! noble fellow!" Ranald was standing at the back of the crowd, looking pale, disturbed, and awkward.

Mrs.Murray, knowing how hateful to him would be any demonstrations of feeling, went to him, and quietly held out her hand, saying: "It was bravely done, Ranald.

From my heart, I thank you." For a moment or two she looked steadily into his face with tears streaming down her cheeks.

Then putting her hands upon his shoulders, she said, softly: "For her dear, dead mother's sake, I thank you." Then Maimie, who had been standing in a kind of stupor all this while, seemed suddenly to awake, and running swiftly toward Ranald, she put out both hands, crying: "Oh, Ranald, I can never thank you enough!" He took her hands in an agony of embarrassment, not knowing what to do or say.