"Mrs. Quilliam."

and yet I occasional ly Avished I had some power over the man ; ho AVUS so strong it AA-OUIC ! have been a satisfaction , oven if he Avere the nephew of my nurse . I suppose every Avoman is a coquette at heart . Perhaps this was the reason Avhy he began to occupy my thoughts It Avas unpleasant , but natural , separated as I . Avas from thc outer Avorld .

AVhen I insisted upon explaining to Nanny' IIOAV I came to bo in the porch , she said : " AVell , ye nccdn' be blushin ' . There ' s no harm done , but y ' re SIOAV at makin' it up . ' Traa dy-liovar , ' isn't that Avhat they are sayin ' , the Manx arc still ; and its tbrue too . I ' m tellin' Evan be cudn' do bather , for all he ' s a gentlemen with a fortune at him . ' You ' re a lady , fcho' you arc poor , and bclongin' to thc quality ^—and all to that , a sbootablo Avife for any man . Yis , that ' s Avhat I say . "

" I Avish you Avoultln ' t then , Nanny , " I said , Avith exasperation . But her good humour and densit y Avero still temper proof . " And AVIIO cud do it better for all ? Him , my OAVU sister ' s son , and you like my own child . AAV , noane of us knoAVs the gud that ' s in store for us . "

CHAPTER VII

It AVr . s Christmas Eve , and Tony Avas much excited about tbe making of a " Kissing Bush , " for Avhich Mrs . Quilliam Avas busy cutting out paper roses and long streamer's of pink , yellow , and blue . These were to be hung on a hoop made of holly , garnished Avith apples and oranges . This , hung up to thc ceiling , constituted the time-honoured "Kissing Bush . "

I Avas feeling pleasantly excited over our small preparations for Christmas , and was on the top of a ladder in the passage hanging up our work of art , IIOAV complete . " Oh , isn't it lovely ? " exclaimed Tony , who , never having seen " Hibbin and Holly " before , was proportionately delighted . " Lift me up , AVitch , and let me have the first kiss of you under it . "

Just then Evan appeared in the outer door , and Tony held out his arms to be taken tloAvn , calling "You haA'e just come in time , Uncle Evan . I have got the first kiss under the bush , you may have the second . Come and kiss Witch , she is real good to kiss . "

Mrs . Quilliam overflowed with delight at this suggestion . " Thet's right , Tony , " she called , hardl y able to speak for laughing . "NOAV then , Evan , here ' s your chance ; " at the same time giving him a push in my direction . " I shall be delighted , " he said .

" You certainly -will not dare , " I interrupted , choking with rage and indignation , but unable to get doAA'ii from thc ladder Avithout

assistance . " Excuse me , Miss Lace , " anSAvcred EA'an cooly ; " May I not kiss my aunt ? I Avas about to say I . should be very happy . " After giving her a hearty kiss he turned and helped 1110 down from my unfortunate position , chatting easily to Tony the Avhile . I made a hasty retreat upstairs , fairly crying with Avrath and vexation .

That evening Tony climbed on my knee and Avhispered , "What for havc you been crying , Witch , were you naughty , or AVUS it because Uncle Evan would not kiss * you ? ifc wasn't kind of him , bufc I -will ask him again . " " Be quiet ! you arc a naughty little boy , " I said , putting him down ; "J haA * c not been crying . "

" Oh , AVitch ! I Avoiildn't tell stories if I Avas you ; you'll go to the bad place , Mammy Quilliam says so ; and I ' m not naughty , neither , for I said I Avould do all you told me if you mado mo the bush , and I have , too . " I repented my injustice and called the child back and kissed him .

"Never mind , I'll forgive you this once , " he said , patroiiisinglyj " and don't cry any more , for Uncle . Evan and mo both lovo * you . " " Perhaps she doesn't care for our love , Tony . " . 1 . looked np at EA'an as he spoke . There was a IIOAV expression on his face , ami his voice A \* as soft and IOAV—no raillery in it IIOAV .

"Mrs. Quilliam."

Half in fear and half in hope I looked at him , wondering Avhathe meant , Avhen Mrs . Quilliam aAvokc from her nap , taking the red silk handkei-cliief from her face . " AVhat ' s that ye ' re sayin' about love , EA'an ? A saycret iss it , Tony ; they ' re a middliiv sly pair anyAvay , and no mistake . "

CHAPTER VIII Christmas Day came in sharp and frosty . There had been a slight fall of snoAv in thc night , and everything looked crisp and IACAV outside . Tony and I Avent to Kirk Patrick church in the morning . His spirits Avere overtloAving at the first sight of SHOAV . I bad been in a strange mood , hardly understood b y myself . Had 1 been asked yesterday if I had any love for Kvan 1 Avould have laughed the idea to scorn . " As little as he has for me , " 1

Avould have ansAvcred . But the night before I thought I saAV something very like it in his eyes , and a spark had been kindled in my heart . But could I have been mistaken ? Had I betrayed my oAAm feelings to' him ? These thoughts kept surging in my mind all the morning , sometimes lifting me up in happy daydreams , and again casting mo doAvn in self-distrust . HOAV Avould he look Avhen I saAV him again , I AA-ondered . I should knoAV then , I Avas sure . "

Tony and I got back from OUT Avalk Avith rosy cheeks and tingling fingers . Mrs . Quilliam and Evan Avere sitting * in the kitchen .

" AVell , you ' re lookin' right stout this niornin ' , Miss Marcia , " Avas Nanny ' s salute . "NOAA- , if you ahvays had that color there ' s not one that Avould come up to yon in the country round . " " Oh , don't natter me , " I said , merrily , Avith the happy consciousness of looking my best .

" Me ! I AA'oukln' do the like ! I ' m not sayin' that ye ' re goodlookiix' in a general way , you ' re tod shall er , but I ' m not blamm' ye for that . ' Handsome is that handsome does . ' What do you say * , Evan ? AVhich Avould you rather have , a sensible Avife or a pretty doll of a one , such as the likes of Jack Crogcen ' s daughter that I seen inakin' eyes at ye in church last Sunday ?"

I AA'as glad to escape upstairs fr . nu tliese personalities . AVhen I got down dinner AA'as ready , and AVC Avero to partake of it all together in honor of the day . It Avas not the merry meal I had looked foi'Avard to . Evan Avas

silent , and did not respond Avith his nsnal tAvinkle or dry speeches to his aunt ' s raillery . Tony alone tvas in high spirits , and I tried to keep up the conversation and fun , but my merriment AVUS forced . After dinner I proposed that Tony and I should have a snow-balling , which . suggestion he received Avith delight .

" Come , Uncle Evan , AVC Avant you too , " he said , walking up his legs as he AVUS fond of doing . To Tony ' s disgust he Avas refused , and he had to be content wifch niy company , lt AVIIS dillicult to keep up even a pretence IIOAV of high spirits , and , after a short game , I sent Tony in , and Avent to see an old woman who lived near . I Avanfced sonic time to think over the change in Evan ' s behaviour .

I must have been mistaken in thinking be liked me . Had I shown too plainly my liking for him _ ¦* A cold . shiver ran over me at the thought . Ho * never could bc such a coxcomb ! And yet Avhat could it all mean ?

Having paid my visit , I returned reluctantly to the house . I had opened the door , and AV . IS standing rubbing the SHOAV off my boots , Avhen 1 heard Mrs . Quilliam say- my name . " Miss Marcia , tho bough ! Whatever is to become of her . " There AVUS no answer , and she Avent on , " You ' re suro there ' s no

mistake about it , I'lvan ? Hns the bank reall y stopped payment ? " " Yes , 1 hoard a ruinonr of it yesterday , and this morning 1 went doAvn to Peel , and every one is talking of it . " " There Avill bc terrible fhroublo this day in th' Island , but every man for his own , and its Miss Marcia I ' m fliiiikin' of . Chid enough 1 am , too , that my little savin ' s AVUS put into a mortgage las' year

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