’I wish the American people had never come here. It is all their doing. It never would have come into Ronald’s head to leave Inver-Mudal but for them. And where else will he be so well known—and—and every one speaking well of him—and every one so friendly——’ ’But, Maggie, these things are always happening,’ her companion remonstrated. ’Look at the changes my father has had to make.’ ’And I wonder if we are never to come back to Inver-Mudal, Meenie?’ the girl said suddenly, with appealing eyes. Meenie tried to laugh, and said— ’Who can tell? It is the way of the world for people to come and go. And Glasgow is a big place—perhaps you would not care to come back after having made plenty of friends there.’ ’My friends will always be here, and nowhere else,’ the smaller girl said, with emphasis. ’Oh, Meenie, do you think if Ronald were to get on well and make more money than he has now, he would come back here, and bring me too, for a week maybe, just to see every one again?’ ’I cannot tell you that, Maggie,’ the elder girl said, rather absently. After this their discussion of the strange and unknown future that lay before them languished somehow; for Meenie seemed preoccupied, and scarcely as blithe and hopeful as she had striven to appear. But when Maggie rose to return home—saying that it was time for her to be looking after Ronald’s supper—her friend seemed to pull herself together somewhat, and at once and cheerfully accepted Maggie’s invitation to come and have tea with her the following afternoon. ’For you have been so little in to see us lately,’ the small Maggie said; ’and Ronald always engaged with the American people—and often in the evening too as well as the whole day long.’ ’But I must make a great deal of you now that you are going away,’ said Miss Douglas, smiling. ’And Ronald—will I ask him to stay in till you come?’ But here there was some hesitation. ’Oh no, I would not do that—no doubt he is busy just now with his preparations for going away. I would not say anything to him—you and I will have tea together by ourselves.’ The smaller girl looked up timidly. ’Ronald is going away too, Meenie.’ Perhaps there was a touch of reproach in the tone; at all events Meenie said, after a moment’s embarrassment— ’Of course I should be very glad if he happened to be in the house—and—and had the time to spare; but I think he will understand that, Maggie, without your saying as much to him.’ ’He gave plenty of his time to the American young lady,’ said Maggie, rather proudly. ’But I thought you and she were great friends,’ Meenie said, in some surprise. ’It takes a longer time than that to make friends,’ the girl said; and by and by she left.