Fever. There's the letter."

Read you it, Jack; I haven't time; I should be off. Minnie, you might watch for the car; I'll be too late if I walk."

"Just as if you cared. How many times have you been locked out and rather enjoyed it, eh?" said Jack.

"Mother, I'll read it after. Tell us about it. What's to become of that poor little girl Airlie ?"

"She's coming here."

"Here? Oh, thunder, won't that be jolly!" said Jack, glorying in Janet's disgusted look. Janet Keith could not tolerate the slang with which her brothers freely adorned their conversation, and on that very account she heard more of it; they only liked to tease her.

"There may be two opinions about the jollity," said Errol, jumping up. "From the style of her letters I would imagine she would be rather too goody-goody for this lot."

"Speak for yourself, Errol, if you please," said Janet, stiffly.

I

"Oh, I did not include you. shouldn't have presumed. Nevertheless, it is possible that even with the immaculate there may be room for improvement," said Errol, rather mockingly.

"Really, children, I wish you wouldn't snap at each other like that. I am afraid Airlie Keith will find Edinburgh heathen worse to bear than African ones."

"Especially the male portion of them," said Janet, expressively; but there was no more said, for Marion shouted that the car was coming, and the boys flew out, buttoning their overcoats as they went. Then

"I can't go." answered Jack, promptly. "You must, Errol; you know I have Rodger's notes to get up. I'll need to stick in all night."

"You always have a fit of study when anything is required which doesn't exactly suit you," said Errol, dryly. "Well, I suppose I'll need to go, mother. When does the train arrive?"

"About eight. You must be down in good time, for it would be dreadful for the poor girl to arrive and find nobody to welcome her."

"One of the girls had better come with me, then. It's rather stupid for a fellow to meet an unknown relation and do all the talk."

Let me go, mamma," pleaded Marion earnestly; for somehow her warm heart was very sore for the orphan who had travelled so many thousand miles in poor health to see her father's kindred, to whom she was not so welcome as she might have been.

takes the hand of a giant to unbind the fetters which, with touch as light as a feather, we may have bound upon ourselves.

Shortly before eight o'clock that evening, Errol and Marion Keith were pacing up and down the plat form at the Waverley Station, awaiting the arrival of the London train. It was five-and-twenty minutes late, and when at last it steamed up to the platform, Marion began to tremble, and even Errol felt himself a trifle excited. There were a great number of passengers, none of whom answered to their idea of Airlie Keith. But at last, when the throng had somewhat dispersed, Errol's eyes. lighted on the small, solitary figure of a girl standing at the far end of the platform, just before the luggage van, looking helpless and bewildered.

"There she is, Marion; come on," said Errol, and in a moment the pair were in front of the solitary passenger.

"Are you Airlie Keith?" said Errol, and Marion wondered to hear the gentleness of his voice.

The slight figure in its big fur wrap turned swiftly round, the small head was raised, and a pair of wonderful dark eyes uplifted themselves to the speaker's face.

"I am Airlie Keith," she answered. "You are Errol; and this, I think, is Marion. Oh, I am so glad to see you."

She extended her hand to Errol, but he put it aside, and putting one arm around her, bent his face to hers. So Errol's kiss, Errol's greeting, was the first Airlie Keith received.

"How are you, Cousin Airlie?" said Marion then, and they kissed each other; and somehow in a moment every feeling of restraint was gone.

I wish I had come to meet you in London, Airlie," said Errol quickly, for these sweet eyes reproached him with his uncousinly behaviour.

"Oh, there was no need," said

Airlie, lightly. "I assure you I am a most independent young woman, who does not even know the meaning of fear. I had a delightful journey. There was such a funny old lady in the compartment with me. If I could draw I would make a picture of her. She had such a horrified face when I told her how far I had come alone. But, there, we need not talk. Could you see after my belongings, Errol, please? It is so cold here."

In a very short space of time Errol had everything out of the luggagevan, and the porter carried them over to the cab-stand.

"Would you help me a little, Errol, if you please," said Airlie, at the cab door. "I have not been very strong, you know, and I can scarcely step up alone."

"I beg your pardon, Airlie; I was busy with the boxes, and did not think," said Errol, as he lifted her right into the cab. "You see, our girls are so accustomed to help themselves."

"Don't apologize. I am just a bundle of aches and pains, you know. I said to Mr. Balfour I would be ashamed to show myself before you all," said Airlie; and now that the excitement of the meeting was past, she sank back into her corner, and Errol saw that she was thoroughly exhausted. And it flashed upon him then, as it had never done before, what a terrible experience it must have been for this young, frail girl to make such a journey alone; only her bright, brave, patient spirit had sustained her to its end.

"I was not sure whether it was a wise step to come to Scotland. I am afraid I will be a burden on Aunt Marion and you all; but the longing to see you all conquered, so I am here." said Airlie, presently. "And I was practically useless at Tahai. Perhaps that was the strongest plea urged upon me to leave. It was a terrible struggle to make up my mind at first."

"It must have been," said Errol, quietly, and a sob broke from Marion's lips, and she reached out her hand and clasped Airlie's firm and close in token of her sympathy and love. It was well, perhaps, for Airlie Keith that these two were the first to meet and greet her; they were certainly the warmest hearts in Errol Lodge. Airlie seemed to feel the jolting of the cab, for she breathed a sigh of relief when it turned into Palmerston Road an swept up the smooth gravelled af proach to her new home.

They told me on the way that there was snow on the ground, but it was so dark I could discern nothing," said Airlie. "I have never seen snow. Ah! there it is! How beautiful, how unlike anything I have ever seen before."

"You will see plenty of it here, I promise you, Airlie," said Errol, grimly. In the meantime, let me take you into the house. Shall I carry you?"

"Oh no, in case Aunt Marion should be frightened out of her wits," said Airlie, merrily, but she leaned heavily enough on the strong arm offered to her; and so they entered the house, Marion following behind. As they stepped into the hall the diningroom door opened, and Mrs. Keith, with her wraps about her head and shoulders, came out, followed by Janet.

"Aunt Marion!" exclaimed Airlie, in a quick, eager whisper, and her eyes flashed one wistful, seeking glance upon her aunt's pale face.

Come, Cousin Airlie, and I will take you to your room," said Janet, stepping forward.

"Will you excuse me if I ask Errol to help me?" said Airlie, with her swift, pathetic smile. "I am a poor, useless thing, Cousin Janet. My back has failed me, and I cannot climb upstairs alone."

So Airlie ascended the long stair, slowly and heavily, leaning on her cousin's arm, and when she reached the landing her face was quite flushed, but they did not know that it was with pain.

"Thank you, Errol. Now, Cousin Janet, I am ready," she said, and they entered the room together. It was a cheerful, cosy corner, with a bright fire burning in the grate. Airlie looked round her with a sigh of content.

"I shall be at home here, I think," she said brightly. "I will just sit down one moment, Janet, to get my breath. Oh, dear, how weak and

weary I am!"

She sank into a low chair, and leaning back, closed her eyes. The colour receded quickly enough from her face, and left it so ashen hued that Janet Keith feared to look upon it.

"Cousin Airlie, I am afraid you are very ill."

"I have been. I am on furlough on that account," said Airlie, and again that sweet, bright smile sent

a gleam upon her face. "I am all right now. Do you think I could go down to tea as I am?"

"Surely. Let me help you," said Janet, and with unusual kindness she quickly unfastened her cousin's wraps and laid them aside, then stooping down, took off her boots.

"I could sponge your face and hands if you like, Airlie. That always refreshes one."

"Oh, thanks, I can do that myself," said Airlie, rising. "Thank you, Cousin Janet" Then with a childish frankness she added, "How lovely you are! You are just like a picture." Oh, nonsense, Airlie!" laughed Janet, but a pleased colour stole into her fair cheek, telling that the unstudied compliment was not unappreciated.

Somewhat refreshed with the cold water, but still very pale and worn, Airlie was ready to go to the diningroom. They were all waiting for her there, and when she entered, leaning heavily on Janet's arm, they were struck by the great and almost painful contrast between them. They were almost of an age, but Janet's tall, straight, graceful figure, and clear, healthy-hued, beautiful face, made Airlie's shrinking figure and thin, sallow face, with its pathetic eyes and frame of short dark curls, look like those of a much older

woman.

"Have I kept you waiting long, Aunt Marion. How very cold it is here," said Airlie, approaching the fire with unmistakable eagerness. "I feel as if I could shrink into myself."

"Take a chair, Airlie," said Jack with ready kindness, pulling a low basket lounge right up to the tiled hearth.

"Thank you; but aren't you waiting for me?" she said, with a glance at the table.

"Suppose you sit here, and I'll wait on you," said Errol, kindly. "You look as if you were starving"

So I am; but remember, I have

been accustomed all my life to the thermometer at 100°," said Airlie, laughing. "May I sit here, as Errol suggests, Aunt Marion ?"

"Surely, my dear; you look frightfully ill, now that I see you," said Mrs. Keith, hardly yet recovered from the shock of the girl's fragile appearance.

Why, there is very little of you to look at. What a morsel you are." There was more of me when I left Tahai, I believe," said Airlie. "But if you had been jolted in a bullock-waggon, as I was, over seven hundred miles of rocky ground, where there is no road, and scarcely a track, you might have diminished too. Oh, it was a frightful journey." "Jolly frightful, I should say," assented Jack with energy.

"But they were so kind to me; they saved me as much as possible," said Airlie, softly.

Who, my dear?" asked Mrs. Keith.

66

The natives, father's children. Half a dozen of them came all the way to the coast with me; and sometimes, when I was very tired with the rough riding, they carried me in their arms. That was such a rest."

"They must be good creatures. I didn't think these sort of heathens had so much feeling," said Mrs. Keith.

A little tremulous smile touched Airlie's lips, but they saw her eyes grow dim.

"I will tell you about them some day, Aunt Marion," she said. “I don't think any body will ever love me as they did; at least not with such utter unselfishness. It nearly broke my heart to see their grief, first over father's death, and then over my leaving them. And there is no one left behind to comfort them, or to keep them in the right way. There is nobody to take up the work for which papa laid down his life."

"Don't fret about it, Airlie," said Mrs. Keith, fussily. "I daresay some