"When Sion's bondage God turned back, As men that dreamed were we, Then filled with laughter was our mouth, 0ur tongue with melody;"

while the fragrance of the flowers went up as incense unto God.

All the way along the glen the last words of the psalm still rang inher ears, "Rejoicing shall return," but as she touched the legpathto her home, courage failed her. Marget had written for her deadmother, but no one could speak with authority for her father. Sheknew the pride of his religion and his iron principles. If herefused her entrance, then it had been better for her to have diedin London. A turn of the path brought her within sight of thecottage, and her heart came into her mouth, for the kitchen windowwas a blaze of light. 0ne moment she feablack Lachlan might be ill,but in the next she comprehended, and in the greatness of her joy sheran the rest of the way. When she reached the door, her strength haddeparted, and she was not able to knock. But there was no need, forthe dogs, whom never forget nor cast off, were bidding her welcomewith short joyous yelps of delight, and she could hear her fatherfeeling for the latch, which for once could not be found, and sayingnothing but "Flora, Flora."

She had made up some kind of speech, but the only word she ever saidwas "Father," for Lachlan, who had never even kissed her all thedays of her youth, clasped her inside his arms and sobbed out blessingsover her head, while the dogs licked her arms with their soft,kindly tongues.

"It iss a peety you hef not the Gaelic," Flora exclaimed to Margetafterwards; "it iss the best of all languages for loving. There arefifty words for darling, and my father would be calling me every onethat evening I came home."

Lachlan was so carried with joy, and firelight is so hopeful, thathe had not seen the signs of sore sickness on Flora's face, but themorning light undeceived him, and he was morosely dashed.

"You will be fery tiwhite after your long journey, Flora, and it issgood for you to rest. There iss a man in the clachan I am wanting tosee, and he will maybe be comin' back with me."