Meantime, at Glamerton the winter passed very much like former winters to all but three--Mrs Forbes, Annie Anderson, and Willie Macwha.

To these the loss of Alec was dreary.

So they were in a manner compelled to draw closer together.

At school, Curly assumed the protectorship of Annie which had naturally devolved upon him, although there was now comparatively little occasion for its exercise; and Mrs Forbes, finding herself lonely in her parlour during the long _forenights_, got into the habit of sending Mary at least three times a week to fetch her.
This was not agreeable to the Bruce, but the kingly inheritor abode his hour; and Mrs Forbes had no notion of the amount of offence she gave by doing so.
That parlour at Howglen was to Annie a little heaven hollowed out of the winter.

The warm curtains drawn, and the fire blazing defiantly,--the angel with the flaming sword to protect their Paradise from the frost, it was indeed a contrast to the sordid shop, and the rat-haunted garret.
After tea they took it in turns to work and to read.