THE REVIVAL
Those last days of Maimie's visit sped by on winged feet. To Ranald they were brimming with happiness, every one of them. It was the slack time of the year, between seeding and harvest, and there was nothing much to keep him at home. And so, with Harry, his devoted companion, Ranald roamed the woods, hitching up Lisette in Yankee's buckboard, put her through her paces, and would now and then get up such bursts of speed as took Harry's breath away; and more than all, there was the chance of a word with Maimie. He had lost much of his awkwardness. He went about with an air of mastery, and why not? He had entered upon his kingdom. The minister noticed and wondered; his wife noticed and smiled sometimes, but oftener sighed, wisely keeping silence, for she knew that in times like this the best words were those unspoken.
The happiest day of all for Ranald was the last, when, after a long tramp with Harry through the woods, he drove him back to the manse, coming up from the gate to the door like a whirlwind.
As Lisette stood pawing and tossing her beautiful head, Mrs.
Murray, who stood with Maimie watching them drive up, cried out, admiringly: "What a beauty she is!""Isn't she!" cried Harry, enthusiastically. "And such a flyer!
Get in, auntie, and see."
"Do," said Ranald; "I would be very glad. Just to the church hill and back.""Go, auntie," pleaded Harry. "She is wonderful.""You go, Maimie," said her aunt, to whom every offered pleasure simply furnished an opportunity of thought for others.
"Nonsense!" cried Harry, impatiently. "You might gratify yourself a little for once in your life. Besides," he added, with true brotherly blindness, "it's you Ranald wants. At least he talks enough about you.""Yes, auntie, do go! It will be lovely," chimed in Maimie, with suspicious heartiness.
So, with many protestations, Mrs. Murray took her place beside Ranald and was whirled off like the wind. She returned in a very few minutes, her hair blown loose till the little curls hung about her glowing face and her eyes shining with excitement.
"Oh, she is perfectly splendid!" she exclaimed. "And so gentle.
You must go, Maimie, if only to the gate." And Maimie went, but not to turn at even the church hill.
For a mile down the concession road Ranald let Lisette jog at an easy pace while he told Maimie some of his aims and hopes. He did not mean to be a farmer nor a lumberman. He was going to the city, and there make his fortune. He did not say it in words, but his tone, his manner, everything about him, proclaimed his confidence that some day he would be a great man. And Maimie believed him, not because it seemed reasonable, or because there seemed to be any ground for his confidence, but just because Ranald said it. His superb self-confidence wrought in her assurance.
"And then," he said, proudly, "I am going to see you.""Oh, I hope you will not wait till then," she answered.
"I do not know," he said. "I cannot tell, but it does not matter much. I will be always seeing you.""But I will want to see you," said Maimie.
"Yes," said Ranald, "I know you will," as if that were a thing to be expected. "But you will be coming back to your aunt here." But of this Maimie could not be sure.
"Oh, yes, you will come," he said, confidently; "I am sure you will come. Harry is coming, and you will come, too." And having settled this point, he turned Lisette and from that out gave his attention to his driving. The colt seemed to realize the necessity of making a display of her best speed, and without any urging, she went along the concession road, increasing her speed at every stride till she wheeled in at the gate. Then Ranald shook the lines over her back and called to her. Magnificently Lisette responded, and swept up to the door with such splendid dash that the whole household greeted her with waving applause. As the colt came to a stand, Maimie stepped out from the buckboard, and turning toward Ranald, said in a low, hurried voice: "O, Ranald, that was splendid, and I am so happy; and you will be sure to come?""I will come," said Ranald, looking down into the blue eyes with a look so long and steady and so full of passionate feeling that Maimie knew he would keep his word.
Then farewells were said, and Ranald turned away, Harry and Mrs.
Murray watching him from the door till he disappeared over the church hill.
"Well, that's the finest chap I ever saw," said Harry, with emphasis. "And what a body he has! He would make a great half-back."
"Poor Ranald! I hope he will make a great and good man," said his aunt, with a ring of sadness in her voice.
"Why poor, auntie?"
"I'm sure I do not know," she said, with a very uncertain smile playing about her mouth. Then she went upstairs and found Maimie sitting at the window overlooking the church hill, and once more she knew how golden is silence. So she set to work to pack Maimie's trunk for her.
"It will be a very early start, Maimie," she said, "and so we will get everything ready to-night.""Yes, auntie," said Maimie, going to her and putting her arms about her. "How happy I have been, and how good you have been to me!""And how glad I have been to have you!" said her aunt.
"Oh, I will never forget you! You have taught me so much that Inever knew before. I see everything so differently. It seems easy to be good here, and, oh! I wish you were not so far away from me, auntie. I am afraid--afraid--"The tears could no longer be denied. She put her head in her aunt's lap and sobbed out her heart's overflow. For an hour they sat by the open trunk, forgetting all about the packing, while her aunt talked to Maimie as no one had ever talked to her before; and often, through the long years of suffering that followed, the words of that evening came to Maimie to lighten and to comfort an hour of fear and sorrow. Mrs. Murray was of those to whom it is given to speak words that will not die with time, but will live, for that they fall from lips touched with the fire of God.
Before they had finished their talk Harry came in, and then Mrs.
