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sprain。 You can't walk for certain。〃
〃Then we shall have to carry her；〃 said Madame De Lacy； and she
turned to her son。
〃I fear I can offer no assistance；〃 said the lieutenant； pointing
to his arm which was hanging limp at his side。
〃Why； Albert； are you hurt？ What is the matter？ You are hurt！〃
cried his mother； anxiously。
〃Not much； but I fear my arm is useless。 You might feel it；〃 he
said to Ranald。
Carefully Ranald passed his hand down the arm。
〃Say nothing；〃 whispered the lieutenant to him。 〃It's broken。 Tie
it up some way。〃 Without a word Ranald stripped the bark of a
birch tree； and making a case； laid the arm in it and bound it
firmly with his silk handkerchief。
〃We ought to have a sling；〃 he said； turning to Kate；。
〃Here；〃 said Madame De Lacy； untying a lace scarf from her neck；
〃take this。〃
Kate took the scarf； and while Ranald held the arm in place she
deftly made it into a sling。
〃There；〃 said the lieutenant； 〃that feels quite comfortable。 Now
let's go。〃
〃Come； Maimie； I'll carry you up the hill；〃 said Harry。
〃No；〃 said Ranald； decidedly； 〃she will go in the canoe。 That will
be easier。〃
〃Quite right；〃 said the lieutenant。 〃Sims； perhaps you will give
my mother your arm； and if Miss Kate will be kind enough to escort
me； we can all four go in the carriage； but first we shall see the
rest of the party safely off。〃
〃Come； then； Maimie；〃 said Harry； approaching his sister； 〃let me
carry you。〃
But Maimie glanced up at Ranald； who without a word； lifted her in
his arms。
〃Put your arm about his neck； Maimie；〃 cried Harry； 〃you will go
more comfortably that way。 Ranald won't mind；〃 he added； with a
laugh。
At the touch of her clinging arms the blood mounted slowly into
Ranald's neck and face； showing red through the dark tan of his
skin。
〃How strong you are；〃 said Maimie； softly； 〃and how easily you
carry me。 But you would soon tire of me；〃 she added with a little
laugh。
〃I would not tire forever；〃 said Ranald； as he laid her gently down
in the canoe。
〃I shall send the carriage to the wharf for you；〃 said Madame De
Lacy； 〃and you will come right home to me； and you； too； Miss
Raymond。〃
Ranald took his place in the stern with Maimie reclining in the
canoe so as to face him。
〃You are sure you are comfortable；〃 he said； with anxious solicitude
in his tone。
〃Quite；〃 she replied； with a cosy little snuggle down among the
cushions placed around her。
〃Then let her go；〃 cried Ranald； dipping in his paddle。
〃Good by；〃 cried Kate； waving her hand at them from the rock。
〃We'll meet you at the wharf。 Take good care of your invalid；
Ranald。〃
With hardly a glance at her Ranald replied： 〃You may be sure of
that；〃 and with a long； swinging stroke shot the canoe out into the
river。 For a moment or two Kate stood looking after them； and
then； with a weary look in her face； turned； and with the
lieutenant； followed Madame De Lacy and Mr。 Sims。
〃You are tired；〃 said the lieutenant； looking into her face。
〃Yes；〃 she replied； with a little sigh； 〃I think I am tired。〃
The paddle home was all too short to Ranald； but whether it took
minutes or hours he could not have told。 As in a dream he swung
his paddle and guided his canoe。 He saw only the beautiful face
and the warm light in the bright eyes before him。 He woke to see
Kate on the wharf before them； and for a moment he wondered how she
came there。 Once more； as he bore her from the canoe to the
carriage； he felt Maimie's arms clinging about his neck and heard
her whisper； 〃You will not leave me； Ranald；〃 and again he replied；
〃No； I will not leave you。〃
Swiftly the De Lacy carriage bore them through the crooked；
climbing streets of the city and out along the country road； then
up a stately avenue of beeches； and drew up before the stone steps；
of a noble old chateau。 Once more Ranald lifted Maimie in his arms
and carried her up the broad steps； and through the great oak…
paneled hall into Madame De Lacy's own cosy sitting…room； and there
he laid her safely in a snug nest of cushions prepared for her。
There was nothing more to do； but to say good by and come away； but
it was Harry that first brought this to Ranald's mind。
〃Good by； Ranald；〃 said Maimie； smiling up into his face。 〃I
cannot thank you for all you have done to…day； but I am sure Madame
De Lacy will let you come to see me sometimes。〃
〃I shall be always glad to see you；〃 said the little lady； with
gentle； old…fashioned courtesy； 〃for we both owe much to you this
day。〃
〃Thank you；〃 said Ranald； quietly； 〃I will come；〃 and passed out of
the room； followed by Harry and Kate。
At the great hall door； Kate stood and watched them drive away；
waving her hand in farewell。
〃Good by；〃 cried Harry； 〃don't forget us in your stately palace；〃
but Ranald made no reply。 He had no thought for her。 But still
she stood and watched the carriage till the beeches hid it from her
view； and then； with her hand pressed against her side； she turned
slowly into the hall。
As the carriage rolled down the stately avenue； Ranald sat absorbed
in deepest thought； heeding not his companion's talk。
〃What's the matter with you； Ranald？ What are you thinking of？〃 at
last cried Harry； impatiently。
〃What？〃 answered Ranald； in strange confusion； 〃I cannot tell you。〃
Unconsciously as he spoke he put up his hand to his neck； for he
was still feeling the pressure of those clinging arms； and all the
way back the sounds of the rolling wheels and noisy； rattling
streets wrought themselves into one sweet refrain； 〃You will not
leave me； Ranald；〃 and often in his heart he answered； 〃No； I will
not；〃 with such a look on his face as men wear when pledging life
and honor。
CHAPTER XXI
I WILL REMEMBER
The Albert was by all odds the exclusive club in the capital city
of upper Canada； for men were loath to drop the old name。 Its
members belonged to the best families； and moved in the highest
circles； and the entre was guarded by a committee of exceeding
vigilance。 They had a very real appreciation of the rights and
privileges of their order； and they cherished for all who assayed
to enter the most lofty ideal。 Not wealth alone could purchase
entrance within those sacred precincts unless； indeed； it were of
sufficient magnitude and distributed with judicious and unvulgar
generosity。 A tinge of blue in the common red blood of humanity
commanded the most favorable consideration； but when there was
neither cerulean tinge of blood nor gilding of station the candidate
for membership in the Albert was deemed unutterable in his
presumption； and rejection absolute and final was inevitable。 A
single black ball shut him out。 So it came as a surprise to most
outsiders； though not to Ranald himself； when that young gentleman's
name appeared in the list of accepted members in the Albert。 He had
been put up by both Raymond and St。 Clair； but not even the powerful
influence of these sponsors would have availed with the members had
it not come to be known that young Macdonald was a friend of Captain
De Lacy's of Quebec； don't you know！ and a sport； begad； of the
fir