"A reason, my lord, that should be considered sufficiently satisfactory to relieve me from importunity on the subject," answered Claudia. "If miladie does not wish to go, we should not urge her to do so," observed Mrs. Dugald, as she slowly sipped her chocolate. "Certainly not. And now I think of it, you can send over for Mrs. MacDonald to come and go with us. The old lady enjoys the drama excessively and will be glad to come. So you shall be sure of your intellectual treat, Faustina." "That will be so nice!" exclaimed Mrs. Dugald, clapping her hands in childish glee. Claudia arose from the table and withdrew to her own apartments. She was revolted by the fulsome manners of the strange woman who shared her dwelling, and she was drawn toward the secret, whatever it was, that old Katie wished to impart to her. When she entered the rooms she found them all arranged tidily by the neat hands of Sally, who since the death of poor Ailsie had had the care of them. "Sally, has not Katie been up yet?" inquired Lady Vincent. "No, ma'am; I don't think she's awake yet; I reckon she's a- oversleepin' of herself. And I would 'a' waked her up, only, ma'am, you bid me not to do it." "What, do you mean to say that she has not yet made her appearance?" demanded Claudia, in alarm. "Nobody aint seen nothing 'tall of her this morning, ma'am." "Go to her room at once and see if she is ill. She may be, you know. Go in quietly, so that you will not awaken her if she should be asleep," said Claudia, in alarm, for she suddenly remembered that people of Katie's age and habit sometimes die suddenly and are found dead in their beds. Sally went on her errand, and Claudia stood waiting and listening breathlessly until her return. "Laws, ma'am, Aunt Katie's done got up, and made her bed up and put her room to rights, and gone downstairs," said Sally, as she entered the room. "Then go at once, and if she has had her breakfast send her up to me. Strange she did not come." Sally departed on this errand also, but she was gone longer than on the first. It was nearly half an hour before she returned. She came in with a scared face, saying: "Ma'am, it's very odd; but the servants say as ole Aunt Katie hasn't been down this morning." "Hasn't been down this morning? And is not in her room either?" cried Claudia, in amazement. "No, ma'am!" answered Sally, stretching her big eyes. Lady Vincent sharply rang the bell. The housekeeper promptly answered it, entering the room with an anxious countenance. "Mrs. Murdock, is it true that my servant Katie has not been seen this morning?" "Me leddy, she has nae been seen, puir auld bodie, sin' last e'en at the gloaming. She didna come to supper, though Katie isna use to be that careless anent her bit and sup, neither." "Not seen since last evening at dusk!" exclaimed Claudia, in consternation. "Na, me leddy, ne'er a bit o' her, puir bodie!"