"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.