There was no child in his home, and his brother's son was as his own.
Meanwhile Don had hurried on, leaving his team with Murdie that he might sing Ranald's praises to "the girls," with whom Ranald was highly popular, although he avoided them, or perhaps because he did so, the ways of women being past understanding.
To Mrs.Murray and Maimie, who with the minister and Hughie, had come over to the supper, he went first with his tale.

Graphically he depicted the struggle from its beginning to the last dramatic rush to the pile, dilating upon Ranald's skill and pluck, and upon the wonderful and hitherto unknown virtues of Farquhar's shiny blacks.
"You ought to see them!" cried Don.

"You bet they never moved in their lives the way they did today.

Tied him!" he continued.

"Tied him! Beat him, I say, but Macdonald Bhain says 'Tied him'-- Aleck McRae, who thinks himself so mighty smart with his team." Don forgot in his excitement that the McRaes and their friends were there in numbers.
"So he is," cried Annie Ross, one of Aleck's admirers.