"Is any one ill?" asked Anne, eagerly. "Ye see, it's just yin o' Mr. Patrick's ill turns. What was onybody to expect after the way he exposed himsel last night?--a frail man like him fighting through the sea as if he had been a giant--and he's waur than ordinar the day." "Can I see Miss Lillie?" said Anne. "Miss Kirstin's been at his bedside close, since ever we got the men sorted in the kitchen. She had to wile him out o' his ain room, because the young Captain's wife was in the next, and she was feared he would disturb her, and he's lying up in the west room. He'll no hear o' a doctor--maybe it's because he kens about physic himself--ony way he'll no have yin near him." "But Miss Lillie would see me perhaps, if you asked her," said Anne. "She's no fond o' onybody fashing her, when she's no wanting them," said Marget, "and it's ill my pairt to anger my mistress.--I've been here even on wi' her this sixteen year--I come frae Falkirk mysel, and dinna belang about this place--and a guid mistress she is, if she's no just like ither folk, And it's a lang trail up that weary stair when ane's breath is as short as mine--and--if ye have nae objection, Mem, I wad rather ye would wait till she comes down hersel. She'll be wanting something for Mr. Patrick before lang." "Will you ask the Captain of the ship to come to me then?" asked Anne. Marget went with some reluctance, and returned in a few minutes with the stalwart young Captain. Anne begged her to guide him to his wife's room, and then opening the outer door, stepped out herself into the garden for a moment's refreshment in the cool morning air. Fresh, bright, healthful, tinged and gilded with their young sunbeams, while everything around rejoiced in its lightsome breadth and purity, Anne almost fancied it strange that the joyous air did not shrink from these gray walls--so full of sin and grief--sorrow, remorse, and pain, that shrank from the eye of man, as they were. When she again entered the room where she had found Marget and Jacky, the young captain of the wrecked ship was there, somewhat tremulous and unsteady, poor fellow, after his meeting with his wife. They had been looking together from the window at the lost vessel with mingled thankfulness and regret. Anne began to speak to him. "The boat was a schooner--the William and Mary of Kincardine--homeward bound from the Baltic, with a cargo of timber. We've been water-logged for three weeks; drifting very much where the wind likit to drive us. If it had not been for the summer weather and lown winds, we must have perished before now; we've had a dreadful time--no that I care for a while of hardship myself--it like comes natural to a seafaring life--but Mary and the infant! I was saying to her the now, that she had better make up her mind, to let me go alone after this; I durst not put her in such peril again. "She seems to have borne it bravely," said Anne.