The minister then, after some further remarks expressive of the good will of the neighbors for Mr. Macdonald, and in appreciation of the kind spirit that prompted the bee, returned thanks, and the supper was over. As the men were leaving the table, Aleck watched his opportunity and called to Maimie, when he was sure Ranald could hear, “Well, when will you be ready for that drive?” And Maimie, who was more indignant at Ranald than ever because he had ignored all her advances at supper, and had received her congratulations upon his victory with nothing more than a grunt, answered Aleck brightly. “Oh, any day that you happen to remember.” “Remember!” cried Aleck; “then that will be every day until our ride comes off.” A few minutes later, as Ranald was hitching up Farquhar's team, Aleck passed by, and in great good humor with himself, chaffingly called out to Ranald in the presence of a number of the men, “That's a fine girl you've got, Ranald. But you better keep your eye on her.” Ranald made no reply. He was fast losing command of himself. “Pretty skittish to handle, isn't she?” continued Aleck. “What y're talkin' 'bout? That Lisette mare?” said Yankee, walking round to Ranald's side. “Purty slick beast, that. Guess there ain't anythin' in this country will make her take dust.” Then in a low voice he said to Ranald, hurriedly, “Don't you mind him; don't you mind him. You can't touch him to-day, on your own place. Let me handle him.” “No,” said Aleck. “We were talking about another colt of Ranald's.” “What's that?” said Yankee, pretending not to hear. “Yes, you bet,” he continued. “Ranald can handle her all right. He knows something about horses, as I guess you have found out, perhaps, by this time. Never saw anything so purty. Didn't know your team had got that move in them, Mr. McNaughton,” Yankee went on to Farquhar, who had just come up. “Indeed, they are none the worse of it,” said Farquhar, rubbing his hands over the sleek sides of his horses. “Worse!” cried Yankee. “They're worth a hundred dollars more from this day on.” “I don't know that. The hundred dollars ought to go upon the driver,” said Farquhar, putting his hand kindly upon Ranald's shoulder. But this Ranald warmly repudiated. “They are a great team,” he said to Farquhar. “And they could do better than they did to-day if they were better handled.' “Indeed, it would be difficult to get that,” said Farquhar, “for, in my opinion, there is not a man in the country that could handle them as well.” This was too much for Aleck, who, having by this time got his horses hitched, mounted his wagon seat and came round to the door at a gallop. “Saved you that time, my boy,” said Yankee to Ranald. “You would have made a fool of yourself in about two minutes more, I guess.” But Ranald was still too wrathful to be grateful for Yankee's help. “I will be even with him someday,” he said, between his teeth.