"Oh, I say, mother, it's great! Ewart telegraphs he will be here by the fifteenth of November and that Doctor Rugvie will come with him. And here 's a letter from him, written two weeks ago, and he says that by now all the cases of books should be in Montreal, plus two French coach horses at the Royal Stables. He says Cale is to go up for them. He tells me to open the cases, and gives you free hand to furbish up in any way you see fit, to make things comfortable for the winter." "My dear boy, what an avalanche of responsibility! I don't know that I feel competent to carry out his wishes." She looked so hopelessly helpless that her son laughed outright. "And when and where do I come in?" I asked merrily; "am I to continue to be the cipher I 've been since my arrival?" "You forgot Marcia, now did n't you, mother?" "I think I did, dear. Do you really think you can attempt all this?" she asked rather anxiously. "Do it! Of course I can--every bit, if only you will let me." "Hurrah for the States!" Jamie cried triumphantly; "Marcia, you're a trump," he added emphatically. Mrs. Macleod turned to me, saying half in apology: "I really have no initiative, my dear; and when so many demands are made upon me unexpectedly, I simply can do nothing--just turn on a pivot, Jamie says; and the very fact that I am a beneficiary here would be an obstacle in carrying out these plans. It is so different in my own home in Crieff." I heard the note of homesickness in her voice, and it dawned upon me that there are others in the world who may feel themselves strangers in it. My heart went out to her for her loneliness in this far away land of French Canada. "Well, so am I a beneficiary; so is Cale and the whole household; and if only you will let me, I 'll make Mr. Ewart himself feel he is a beneficiary in his own house," I retorted gayly. "And as for Doctor Rugvie, we 'll see whether his farm will have such attractions for him after he has been our guest." Mrs. Macleod laid her hand on my shoulder and smiled, saying with a sigh of relief: "If you will only take the generalship, Marcia, you will find in me a good aide-de-camp." Jamie said nothing, but he gave me a look that was with me all that day and many following. It spurred me to do my best. V