"It may be you 're right; I had n't thought of it in that light. Of course, I never heard of the rumor till I came back from camp in September; then it seemed to be in the air. I wonder if the Doctor has ever heard anything." "Probably his coming home so soon and making his home here started the gossip. Jamie--" "Yes." "You said he never spoke much to you about his personal affairs--that you don't know so very much of his intimate personal life. Does n't that prove that he has had some trouble, some painful experience?" "Woman's logic, but I suppose he has. Most men have been through the wilderness, or been lost in it, by the time they are forty. I should think if--mind you, I say 'if'--he was ever married, ever divorced, ever had a child somewhere, he might find his special trail difficult at times; but he has n't lost it! Ewart does not lose a trail so easily! Look at his experience--Oxford, London, Australian sheep-ranchman, forester here in Lamoral! And he 's so tender with everything and everybody. That's what makes him so beloved here in this French settlement." "Except towards the Doctor last night." "That's so; but he is tender just the same. I 've seen that trait in him so many times." "I should think he might be--and like adamant at others," I said, and began to put the room to rights. XIV "We shall miss the Doctor no end," said Jamie ruefully. We caught the last wave of his hand; the pung's broad fur-behung back could no longer be seen; the jingle of the bells grew fainter; soon there was silence. "He promised to come again in February. And, now, what next?" I turned to Mrs. Macleod who was standing with Jamie at the window. "There does n't seem to be any 'next'?" she answered with such evident dejection that Jamie and I laughed at her. "Take heart, mither," her son admonished her, using for the first time in my presence the softer Scotch for mother. "It's been such a pleasant week for us--and I find Mr. Ewart so different; not that I mean to criticize our host," she added hastily and apologetically. She seemed to take pleasure in refusing to be comforted for the loss of the Doctor's cheering presence. "Of course he 's different; there can't be two Doctor Rugvies in this needy world; but you wait till you know Ewart better, mother. Talk about 'what next'! You 'll find as soon as Ewart sets things humming here there 'll be plenty of the 'next'; Cale can give you a point or two on that already. By the way, he seems to have sworn allegiance to Ewart; he does n't have time for me now."