“I could not have believed it if I had not seen it!” cried Sheila again and again. “And, oh, how hot and delicious it is! Effie must get well here!” The New Hotel was a fine building, and there was pretty little Mrs. Reid waiting smiling in the hall to give them a welcome. Miss Adene had several kindly questions to ask, and went off with Mrs. Reid to the suite of rooms which had been bespoken for the Dumaresqs, whilst Sheila was handed over to the care of a tall, slight, ladylike girl, who took her up and up to the rooms selected by Mrs. Cossart. “It is a long way up, but they thought the air would be fresher and the rooms more quiet for the lady who is ill,” she explained; and Sheila, to whom stairs were no trouble, was delighted. After all, it was only on the second floor; only, the rooms being lofty, the journey seemed a little long. “Oh, Effie,” cried Sheila, “what a splendid room! How high, and cool, and delicious! Oh, I do like these white walls! And what views we get! Oh, how I love those great, great wild mountains! And there is the dear sea out of this one. It is nice to have two different views, and both so lovely! Oh, how happy we shall be!” Effie was lying on the sofa, but she was looking interested and animated. The maid passed in and out, looking about her, and keeping an eye on her young charge. “Yes, I like being up here. I feel as though I could breathe. I was afraid it might be too hot below. Father and mother have the room next but one looking south over the sea, and Susan has the next one, though it is big, so that we are all together. She may have to move when the hotel fills up; but she is to be there now. I think I shall like this place, Sheila; and the people seem so kind.” Kindness indeed seemed to prevail here. The Portuguese chambermaid, in her odd, broken English, was wishful to know what kind of bedding and pillows the ladies liked; and when she brought in anything asked for, she would set it down with a beaming smile, saying, “Sank you, my ladies.” The curly-haired waiter who brought up afternoon tea almost at once was wishful to know what the ladies liked; and before long, Mrs. Reid had come up to see if Effie were comfortable, and talk cheerfully and kindly to her till called off in another direction. “I must just run down and round the garden!” cried Sheila, after they had eagerly drunk their tea. “I wonder if I might bring you back some flowers? If I see Mrs. Reid, I will ask her.” Mrs. Reid quite laughed at the question as Sheila passed her going out. “As many as ever you like. And take care not to slip on the pebbled paths. People have got to get used to them.” Ronald was outside, and hailed Sheila eagerly. “Come along and let us explore!” he cried. “Give me your hand. These cobbles are mighty slippery. They say gravel would be washed away by the tropical showers even if they could get it. But it’s precious queer walking down these steep places. One wants to be a bullock for that.”