Mrs. Aytoun sat down--little Alice concealed her laugh by looking steadfastly down the road, at the distant roofs of Aberford, and Anne took a chair beside her. "Is't no a grand prospect?" said Miss Crankie, "a' the Firth before us, and the town at our right hand--a young lady that was here last simmer said to Tammie (that's my sister, Mrs. Yammer, her name's Thomasine--we call her Tammie for shortness,) 'If it wasna for breaking the tenth command, I would covert ye your house, Mrs. Yammer,'--and so dry, and free from drafts, and every way guid for an invalid. It's uncommonly weel likit." "It seems a very nice house," said Mrs. Aytoun. "Are your rooms disengaged, Miss Crankie?" "For what time was ye wanting them, Mem?" said Miss Crankie. "There's young Mrs. Mavis is to be here in July, and Miss Todd was speaking of bringing ower her brother's bairns in August--but I'm aye fond to oblige a lady--for what time was ye wanting them?" "This young lady, Miss Ross"--Miss Crankie honored Anne with a queer nod and a smile, which very nearly upset the gravity of Alice, and put Anne's own in jeopardy, "desires to have lodgings in the neighborhood for this month, and, perhaps, May.--What do you think, my dear? will you need them longer?" "I hope not," said Anne, "but still, it is possible I may." "Miss Ross requires change of air," said Mrs. Aytoun, faltering and endeavoring to excuse her equivocation, by noticing that Anne did look pale. "Of scene, rather," said Anne, slightly affected by the same hesitation. It was true, however, if not in the usual sense. Miss Crankie fixed her odd little black eye upon Anne, nodded, and looked as if she comprehended perfectly. "Will you be able to accommodate Miss Ross and her servant, Miss Crankie?" "That will I; there's no better accommodation in the haill Lothians; and, for change of scene, what could heart desire better than that--ay, or that either, young Miss, which is as bonnie a country view (no to be the sea) as can be seen. Will ye look at the bed-room?" Miss Crankie darted out, leading the way. Mrs. Aytoun, Anne, and Alice followed. The bed-room was immediately behind the parlor, resplendent in all the glory of white covers, and chintz curtains, and with an embowered window looking out upon "the green," which was separated from the kitchen-garden by a thick hedge of sweet-briar. Alice was delighted, and Anne so perfectly satisfied, that Mrs. Aytoun made the bargain. The rooms were taken, together with a little den up stairs for Jacky. Miss Crankie faithfully promised in her own name and Mrs. Yammer's, that the apartments should be ready for Anne's reception next day; and when they had partaken of a frugal refreshment--some very peculiar wine of Miss Crankie's own manufacture, and cake to correspond--they left the house.