’No, no,’ her friend said, with an effort to appear quite cheerful, ’I was thinking of many things—I scarcely know what. And now take off your things and sit down, Maggie, and tell me all about this great news. It was only this afternoon that my father learnt that you and your brother were going away; and he would not believe it at first, till he saw Ronald himself. And it is true, after all? Dear me, what a change there will be!’ She spoke quite in her usual manner now; and her lips were no longer trembling, but smiling; and the Highland eyes were clear, and as full of kindness as ever. ’But it is a long way off, Meenie,’ the smaller girl began to explain quickly, when she had taken her seat by the fire, ’and Ronald is so anxious to please everybody, and—and that is why I came along to ask you what you think best.’ ’I?’ said Meenie, with a sudden slight touch of reserve. ’It’ll not be a nice thing going away among strange folk,’ said her companion, ’but I’ll no grumble if it’s to do Ronald good; and even among strange folk—well, I don’t care as long as I have Ronald and you, Meenie. And it’s to Glasgow, and not to Edinburgh, he thinks he’ll have to go; and then you will be in Glasgow too; so I do not mind anything else. It will not be so lonely for any of us; and we can spend the evenings together—oh no, it will not be lonely at all——’ ’But, Maggie,’ the elder girl said gravely, ’I am not going to Glasgow.’ Her companion looked up quickly, with frightened eyes. ’But you said you were going, Meenie!’ ’Oh no,’ the other said gently. ’My mother has often talked of it—and I suppose I may have to go some time; but my father is against it; and I know I am not going at present anyway.’ ’And you are staying here—and—and Ronald and me—we will be by ourselves in Glasgow!’ the other exclaimed, as if this prospect were too terrible to be quite comprehended as yet. ’But if it is needful he should go?’ Meenie said. ’People have often to part from their friends like that.’ ’Yes, and it’s no much matter when they have plenty of friends,’ said the smaller girl, with her eyes becoming moist, ’but, Meenie, I havena got one but you.’ ’Oh no, you must not say that,’ her friend remonstrated. ’Why, there is your brother in Glasgow, and his family; I am sure they will be kind to you. And Ronald will make plenty of friends wherever he goes—you can see that for yourself; and do you think you will be lonely in a great town like Glasgow? It is the very place to make friends, and plenty of them—