The young man entered with a grave cheerfulness; he bowed to his father, kissed his mother, and then drew a chair to the cold hearth. In a few minutes he rang the bell, and when it was answered, bid the negro bring hot coals and kindle the fire.
"Neil, my dear lad," said the Elder, "are you remembering that wood is nearly ungetable—ten pounds or mair a cord? I hae but little left. I'm feared it won't see the war out."
"If wood is getable at any price, I am not willing to see mother and you shivering. Burn your wood as you need it, and trust for the future."
"I hae told your father the same thing often, Neil; careful, of course, we must be, but sparing is not caring. There was once a wife who always took what she wanted, and she always had enough." The fire blazed merrily, and Neil smiled, and the Elder stretched out his thin legs to the heat, and the whole feeling of the room was changed. Then Madame said:
"Neil, your brother Alexander has gane to Scotland."
"I expected him to take that step."
"And he is sending little Maria to us, until he gets a home for her."
"I should not think she will be much in the way, mother. She is only a child."
"She is nearly seventeen years old. She won't be much in my way; it is you that will hae to take her out—to military balls and the like."
"Nonsense! I can't have a child trailing after me in such places."