A New Scheme. 117

 

were alone together, I have no doubt they would
get on very well with me between them.”

“T don’t ‘doubt it,” said her husband, still
thoughtfully.

“Couldn’t we manage it somehow, John?” said
Mrs Macmichael, half timidly, after a pause of some
duration. ,

“T can’t say I see how—at this moment,” an-
swered the doctor, “much as I should like it. But
there’s time yet, and we’ll think it over, and talk
about it, and perhaps we may hit upon some plan
or other. Most things may be done; and every-
thing necessary caz be done somehow. So we
won't bother our minds about it, but only our
brains, and see what they can do for us.”

With this he rose and went to his laboratory.

Willie rose also and went straight to his own
room, Having looked all round it thoughtfully
several times, he went out again on the landing,
whence a ladder led up into a garret running the
whole length of the roof of the cottage.

“My room would do for grannie,” he said to
himself; “and I could sleep up there. A shake-
down in the corner would do well enough for me,”

He climbed the ladder, pushed open the trap-
door, crept half through, and surveyed the gloomy
place.

“There’s no window but a skylight!” he said ;
and his eyes.smarted as if the tears were about to