Page:Authors daughter v1.djvu/267

Rh of her marriage. Not but what Mrs. Lindsay, as usual, had more to say of the hardships of parting with Jessie than her husband had, but she relieved herself in that way.

As for Allan's going to Gundabook, she had still more objections to make to that than to George's leaving it. Jamie might have a trial there. So long as he was at Branxholm he did not take his fair share of the work, but trusted too much to Allan or to Harry Weir. Besides, Allan was the most skilled with the plough, and with the reaping machine, and had most knowledge about the garden; and if things went wrong at Branxholm that would be worse than if there were losses at Gundabook. George Copeland had given the out-station a capital start, and Jamie was a year and a half older than when it was undertaken. Donald was steady enough, and his wife a quiet, civil body, though not over clean; but better men than Jamie had had no better company. Jamie himself was very willing to go, and there was no occasion why Allan should be sent from work of far more consequence.

The mother's arguments had their effect, and the younger brother went to Gundabook, while the youngest of the family, Hughie, was taken from the school, where his mother said he was