He held the child silently a little while longer, and then carried her back to her bed; after which he returned to his seat near the fire. His wife had already seated herself in her low chair, her face bent above the knitting in her hands. Outside the wind howled and roared, but in the room where these two sat all was, to the eye, calm, and sweet, and cosey. The fire glowed, and emitted cheerful little snaps and sparks, the clock ticked, and the knitting-needles clicked, and through the open door the child's soft, regular breathing was distinctly audible. Suddenly the woman stirred and looked up, to find her husband's eyes fixed upon her. Strangely enough they faltered, and turned away, but presently came back to hers again. "You are very silent to-night, lassie," he said, putting out his hand to stroke her fair girlish head. "Are you ill, or over-tired?" She shook her head, and dropping the knitting from her hands, clasped them over her husband's knee, and laid her cheek upon them. "No," she said, softly, "not ill, nor tired. Only somehow I have been thinking all day of old times and--_of him!_" She dropped her voice to a whisper as she spoke the last words, and her husband felt the hands on his knee tremble. He said nothing, though his face grew dark, and his teeth shut over his lip tightly. "I have been wondering," she went on, "what became of him, Jamie!--if he is still alive, and--" with a break in the soft voice--"if he has forgiven me _my_ part in his suffering. Oh, Jamie!" she broke out passionately, throwing her arms about her husband, and raising her lovely, tearful face to his, "Oh, Jamie! I was so young and foolish when I promised to be his wife, and I had not even seen you then! Tell me, Jamie, was I so very, very wicked that I loved you best? Could I help it, Jamie?" She rose and threw herself upon his breast, sobbing like a child. She could not, through her tears, see the working of his face, nor the effort it caused him to speak. He tried to quiet her with caresses and all manner of fond epithets, and at last she lay still, with closed eyes, upon his shoulder. A tremendous blast swept through the valley, shaking the cottage to its foundation, and shrieking down the chimney like a cry of despair. "Great heavens!" Dixon muttered; "what a night!" Then, rousing himself, he added, "Come, lassie. Come rest, and promise me not to give way to such excitement again. You are not strong, and such moods are dangerous for you." They rose, and stood facing each other before the dying fire. "One thing," he said, seizing her hands, with a swift change of manner--"one thing, Barbara. Have you ever been sorry that you came with me--that you trusted me?" She looked at him wonderingly, but with perfect love and trustfulness. "Never, Jamie!" she said. "Never for one moment." "And whatever happens," he went on, drawing her closer, "whatever happens, you are sure you never _will_ be sorry?" "Quite sure, Jamie!"