Christina was not concerned about the family honour, but she was very much disturbed over Ellen. And then it was a heartbreaking thing to lose Bruce, too. He had always seemed like a brother, and it was almost as bad as if Neil or Sandy should become estranged. Poor Ellen was striving hard to hide her hurt, and made heroic efforts to explain Bruce's changed manners. He was tired with all the unaccustomed work of the farm, he had to study at nights and that kept him at home. She was always ready with an excuse for his unaccustomed absence. "Where's Bruce, Ellie?" asked her mother one Sunday evening when the usual crowd strolled in after the Methodist service. "He's back at the gate with the boys, Mother," said Ellen with affected carelessness. "He'll likely be in later." Bruce did come in later with John, but he did not stay late and went home when Annie and Katie left. Of course Joanna did not fail to notice the change in Bruce and remark upon it. There was a little crowd at the Lindsays one evening to see Mary, when the McKenzie contingent entered without him. "Where's your family doctor, Ellen?" Joanna inquired. "You'll have to look after your fellow better than you're doing!" Ellen looked at her with quiet dignity, but her cheeks grew crimson. "It's very good of you to be so interested in him, Joanna," she said. "Course I'm interested in all my neighbours. Here's the whole McKenzie outfit, every one of them, but your particular one. Annie, you keep Bruce tied up as close as Ma Sutherland does her little boy. What have you done with him?" Annie McKenzie was Ellen's close friend. She looked embarrassed. "He's tired. He's been working in the field all day and now he's got studying to do at night," she declared hurriedly. "My! If you let him study that hard he ought to be a doctor about next Christmas! Maybe he's hurrying up so's he can get married a year or two sooner!" Ellen's face grew pale, but Mary was there. Mary Lindsay had always been a match for Joanna in a quiet elusive way, and now from the vantage ground of a rather brilliant marriage Mary McGillivray was still more to be feared. "Oh, Joanna," she said suavely, "a long piece of your hair is hanging down at the back. There's a looking-glass on the wall over there where Trooper's standing. Would you like to go and fix it?" Joanna flounced away into the bed-room completely routed. There was something subtle about Mary that one could not combat. Bruce dropped in late at the next practice that was held in the church. He sat in the back seat and talked with the other boys during intermission, but his very presence seemed to make Ellen happy. She became radiant, and chatted and laughed gaily with the other girls, looking handsomer than she had for many a day.