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to fly； but before she had gone more than a single step Ranald；
dashing the crowd right and left； had seized and flung her headlong
into the snow； beating out the flames with his bare hands。 In a
moment all danger was over； and Ranald lifted her up。 Still
screaming； she clung to him； while the women all ran to her。 Her
aunt reached her first。
〃Hush； Maimie； hush； dear。 You are quite safe now。 Let me see
your face。 There now； be quiet； child。 The danger is all over。〃
Still Maimie kept screaming。 She was thoroughly terrified。
〃Listen to me；〃 her aunt said； in an even； firm voice。 〃Do not be
foolish。 Let me look at you。〃
The quiet； firm voice soothed her； and Maimie's screams ceased。
Her aunt examined her face； neck； and arms for any signs of fire；
but could find none。 She was hardly touched； so swift had been her
rescue。 Then Mrs。 Murray； suddenly putting her arms round about
her niece； and holding her tight； cried： 〃Thank God； my darling；
for his great kindness to you and to us all。 Thank God！ thank
God！〃
Her voice broke； but in a moment； recovering herself； she went on；
〃And Ranald； too！ noble fellow！〃
Ranald was standing at the back of the crowd； looking pale；
disturbed； and awkward。 Mrs。 Murray； knowing how hateful to him
would be any demonstrations of feeling； went to him； and quietly
held out her hand； saying： 〃It was bravely done； Ranald。 From my
heart； I thank you。〃
For a moment or two she looked steadily into his face with tears
streaming down her cheeks。 Then putting her hands upon his
shoulders； she said； softly：
〃For her dear； dead mother's sake； I thank you。〃
Then Maimie； who had been standing in a kind of stupor all this
while； seemed suddenly to awake； and running swiftly toward Ranald；
she put out both hands； crying： 〃Oh； Ranald； I can never thank you
enough！〃
He took her hands in an agony of embarrassment； not knowing what to
do or say。 Then Maimie suddenly dropped his hands； and throwing
her arms about his neck； kissed him； and ran back to her aunt's
side。
〃I thought you didn't play forfeits； Maimie；〃 said Don； in a
grieved voice。 And every one was glad to laugh。
Then the minister's wife； looking round upon them all； said： 〃Dear
children； God has been very good to us； and I think we ought to
give him thanks。〃
And standing there by the fire； they bowed their heads in a new
thanksgiving to Him whose keeping never fails by day or night。 And
then； with hearts and voices subdued； and with quiet good nights；
they went their ways home。
But as the Cameron sleigh drove off with its load； Maimie looked
back； and seeing Ranald standing by the fire； she whispered to her
aunt： 〃Oh； auntie！ Isn't he just splendid？〃
But her aunt made no reply； seeing a new danger for them both；
greater than that they had escaped。
CHAPTER IX
A SABBATH DAY'S WORK
The Sabbath that followed the sugaring…off was to Maimie the most
remarkable Sabbath of her life up to that day。 It was totally
unlike the Sabbath of her home； which； after the formal 〃church
parade；〃 as Harry called it； in the morning； her father spent in
lounging with his magazine and pipe； her aunt in sleeping or in
social gossip with such friends as might drop in； and Harry and
Maimie as best they could。
The Sabbath in the minister's house； as in the homes of his people；
was a day so set apart from other days that it had to be approached。
The Saturday afternoon and evening caught something of its
atmosphere。 No frivolity； indeed no light amusement； was proper
on the evening that put a period to the worldly occupations and
engagements of the week。 That evening was one of preparation。 The
house； and especially the kitchen； was thoroughly 〃redd up。〃 Wood；
water； and kindlings were brought in； clothes were brushed； boots
greased or polished； dinner prepared； and in every way possible the
whole house； its dwellers； and its belongings； made ready for the
morrow。 So； when the Sabbath morning dawned； people awoke with a
feeling that old things had passed away and that the whole world was
new。 The sun shone with a radiance not known on other days。 He was
shining upon holy things； and lighting men and women to holy duties。
Through all the farms the fields lay bathed in his genial glow； at
rest； and the very trees stood in silent worship of the bending
heavens。 Up from stable and from kitchen came no sounds of work。
The horses knew that no wheel would turn that day in labor； and the
dogs lay sleeping in sunny nooks； knowing as well as any that there
was to be no hunting or roaming for them that day； unless they chose
to go on a free hunt； which none but light…headed puppies or
dissipated and reprobate dogs would care to do。
Over all things rest brooded； and out of the rest grew holy
thoughts and hopes。 It was a day of beginnings。 For the past；
broken and stained； there was a new offer of oblivion and healing；
and the heart was summoned to look forward to new life and to hope
for better things； and to drink in all those soothing； healing
influences that memory and faith combine to give； so that when the
day was done； weary and discouraged men and women began to feel
that； perhaps after all they might be able to endure and even to
hope for victory。
The minister rose earlier on Sabbath than on other days； the
responsibility of his office pressing hard upon him。 Breakfast was
more silent than usual； ordinary subjects of conversation being
discouraged。 The minister was preoccupied and impatient of any
interruption of his thoughts。 But his wife came to the table with
a sweeter serenity than usual； and a calm upon her face that told
of hidden strength。 Even Maimie could notice the difference； but
she could only wonder。 The secret of it was hidden from her。 Her
aunt was like no other woman that she knew； and there were many
things about her too deep for Maimie's understanding。
After worship； which was brief but solemn and intense； Lambert
hurried to bring round to the front the big black horse； hitched up
in the carryall； and they all made speed to pack themselves in；
Maimie and her aunt in front； and Hughie on the floor behind with
his legs under the seat； for when once the minister was himself
quite ready； and had got his great meerschaum pipe going； it was
unsafe for any one to delay him a single instant。
The drive to the church was an experience hardly in keeping with
the spirit of the day。 It was more exciting than restful。 Black
was a horse with a single aim； which was to devour the space that
stretched out before him； with a fine disregard of consequence。
The first part of the road up to the church hill and down again to
the swamp was to Black； as to the others； an unmixed joy； for he
was fresh from his oats and eager to go； and his driver was as
eager to let him have his will。
But when the swamp was reached； and the buggy began to leap from
log to log of the corduroy； Black began to chafe in impatience of
the rein which commanded caution。 Indeed； the passage of the swamp
was always more or less of an adventure； the result of which no one
could foretell； and it took all Mrs。 Murray'