‘And if you talk any more I will leave the house this instant. If you have any peace in your mind, keep it, and thank God. But don’t say another syllable, unless you want to kill yourself.’ All through that night Cameron and Margaret watched by turns. About four in the morning Cameron touched the bell which stood at the side of the bed; and in a few seconds Margaret was in the room. Alec was sitting upright, supported by his friend’s arms and breast, while he laboured and gasped for breath. ‘Call his father,’ whispered Cameron. Margaret longed to fly to her brother’s side; but she did as she was told, and soon the old man obeyed the summons. ‘It cannot last much longer,’ whispered Cameron to Margaret, as she stood sobbing at his side. The three stood there and waited helplessly while the life and death struggle went on. At last the breathing became more regular, and Alec was able to look at the faces of those around him. ‘I think you had better go now; it only excites him to see so many of us here,’ said Cameron, still speaking in a whisper. ‘I will call you again if he should get worse, but I don’t think it will be necessary. I think he will do now.’ Cameron was right. Alec had youth and a magnificent constitution on his side; and from that night he grew gradually better. * * * * * The sun was shining bright and strong through the little square windows of the parlour, when the invalid came down for the first time after his illness. It was May; the rain was over and gone, and the time of the singing of birds had come. Alec’s heart sang with them, he hardly knew why. It was partly the reaction of a young and vigorous system after the illness and the mental depression through which he had passed; but he had undergone another change of which he said nothing. He no longer looked on the world as an arena in which success meant all that was worth living for, and failure irretrievable disaster. During his convalescence there had been some talk of the future, and it had been settled that in order to get rid of the weakness in his lungs Alec should spend one or two years in a dry, warm climate. Cameron had recommended a voyage to Australia; and finally it was settled that the invalid should wait at the Castle Farm till he was quite fit to travel, and then sail for Melbourne. If he found that the climate suited him, he was to settle down for a year or more, and learn sheep-farming. In view of so long a parting, he was in no hurry to leave home; and for the first time since his boyhood he enjoyed staying at the farm. ‘Alec,’ said his father to him one day, not long before the time fixed for his departure, ‘did I ever tell you that I had heard from your cousin Semple?’ ‘No!’ exclaimed Alec in great astonishment. ‘When? Where is he? What is he doing?’