And Ranald gladly listened to her, and threw himself into his study, using his spare hours to such good purpose throughout the summer that he easily kept pace with the class in English, and distanced them in his favorite subject, mathematics.
But all these months Mrs.Murray felt that Ranald was carrying with him a load of unrest, and she waited for the time when he would come to her.
His uncle, Macdonald Bhain, too, shared her anxiety in regard to Ranald.
"He is the fine, steady lad," he said one night, walking home with her from the church; "and a good winter's work has he put behind him.

He is that queeck, there is not a man like him on the drive; but he is not the same boy that he was.

He will not be telling me anything, but when the boys will be sporting, he is not with them.

He will be reading his book, or he will be sitting by himself alone.

He is like his father in the courage of him.