It was a moment before Gavin replied; then he said, gaily-- "Really, mother, the way the best of women speak of each other is lamentable. You say I should be better married, and then you take for granted that every marriageable woman in the neighbourhood is trying to kidnap me. I am sure you did not take my father by force in that way." He did not see that Margaret trembled at the mention of his father. He never knew that she was many times pining to lay her head upon his breast and tell him of me. Yet I cannot but believe that she always shook when Adam Dishart was spoken of between them. I cannot think that the long-cherishing of the secret which was hers and mine kept her face steady when that horror suddenly confronted her as now. Gavin would have suspected much had he ever suspected anything. "I know," Margaret said, courageously, "that you would be better married; but when it comes to selecting the woman I grow fearful. O Gavin!" she said, earnestly, "it is an awful thing to marry the wrong man!" Here in a moment had she revealed much, though far from all, and there must have been many such moments between them. But Gavin was thinking of his own affairs. "You mean the wrong woman, don't you, mother?" he said, and she hastened to agree. But it was the wrong man she meant. "The difficulty, I suppose, is to hit upon the right one?" Gavin said, blithely. "To know which is the right one in time," answered Margaret, solemnly. "But I am saying nothing against the young ladies of Thrums, Gavin. Though I have scarcely seen them, I know there are good women among them. Jean says----" "I believe, mother," Gavin interposed, reproachfully, "that you have been questioning Jean about them?" "Just because I was afraid--I mean because I fancied--you might be taking a liking to one of them." "And what is Jean's verdict?" "She says every one of them would jump at you, like a bird at a berry." "But the berry cannot be divided. How would Miss Pennycuick please you, mother?" "Gavin!" cried Margaret, in consternation, "you don't mean to----But you are laughing at me again." "Then there is the banker's daughter?" "I can't thole her." "Why, I question if you ever set eyes on her, mother." "Perhaps not, Gavin; but I have suspected her ever since she offered to become one of your tract distributors." "The doctor," said Gavin, not ill-pleased, "was saying that either of these ladies would suit me." "What business has he," asked Margaret, vindictively, "to put such thoughts into your head?" "But he only did as you are doing. Mother, I see you will never be satisfied without selecting the woman for me yourself." "Ay, Gavin," said Margaret, earnestly; "and I question if I should be satisfied even then. But I am sure I should be a better guide to you than Dr. McQueen is." "I am convinced of that. But I wonder what sort of woman would content you?"