And he listened placidly, with folded hands and half shut eyes, while Angus, at Mary's request, trolled forth "The Standard on the Braes o' Mar" and "Sound the pibroch,"-- varying those warlike ditties with "Jock o' Hazledean," and "Will ye no come back again,"-- till all suddenly Mary rose from her chair, and with her finger to her lips said "Hark!" The church-bells were ringing out the Old Year, and glancing at the clock, they saw it wanted but ten minutes to midnight.

Softly Mary stepped to the cottage door and opened it.

The chime swung melodiously in, and Angus Reay went to the threshold, and stood beside Mary, listening.

Had they glanced back that instant they would have seen Helmsley looking at them both, with an intensity of yearning in his pale face and sad old eyes that was pitiful and earnest beyond all expression--they would have seen his lips move, as he murmured--"God grant that I may make their lives beautiful! God give me this peace of mind before I die! God bless them!" But they were absorbed in listening--and presently with a deep clang the bells ceased.

Mary turned her head.
"The Old Year's out, David!" Then she went to him and knelt down beside him.
"It's been a kind old year!"-- she said--"It brought you to me to take care of, and _me_ to you to take care of you--didn't it ?" He laid one hand on hers, tremblingly, but was silent.