had had least of the advantages of education, possessed it in the highest degree. The deference with which Allan was treated in his own family had a tendency to make him a little opinionative and obstinate, but the arrival of Amy Staunton, with so many points of superiority that he was obliged to yield to, had been an excellent corrective, and he was more convinceable than he used to be, as Hrs. Lindsay put it.
Allan was not long in making Amy's new netting-needle; it was rather thick, but she could work with it, and soon finished the net. Jessie thanked her for it, and said it was very pretty. Amy arranged the thick curls of fair hair under it and was satisfied with the effect, but Jessie looked anxious and distraught. She had not her wits about her as usual, her mother said, and indeed the anticipation of Allah's going away had unsettled everybody in the house; but no one guessed what Jessie had on her mind as an especial cause of disturbance.
It was the day before George Copeland's departure. He had not finally agreed with Mr. Hammond, but it was an understood thing that he was to go to the Darling, and on this Sunday afternoon the family at Branxholm were dull enough, and George feeling that he had been the cause of it all looked miserable; Judy had cut
