"Is Mrs. Fraser very ill? Has she been able to see anyone just lately?" "Yus, Miss, she’s bin up at midday since Monday. She’s settin’ up now in ’er room." "I’ll come inside," said Isla decidedly. "Go upstairs and tell her that Miss Mackinnon from Achree has called and would like very much to see her." "Yus, Miss," said the girl stolidly, and, opening the door a little more widely, permitted Isla to step into the hall. "There ain’t anywheer but Mr. Carswell’s room. The drorin’-room lidy ain’t out this mornin’. Yus--yer can sit ’ere if yer likes. But Missis Fraser, she don’t like me leavin’ folks in the hall since a werry decent-looking man took away three umbrellas and Mister Carswell’s best greatcoat." Isla sat down on one of the rush-bottomed chairs and asked the girl to make haste to convey her message. Very soon she heard the quick shutting of various doors, the rushing about of feet upstairs, and, after about five minutes, the damsel appeared out of breath and with her cap more awry than ever. "Yer can come up," she said laconically. Isla proceeded to ascend the somewhat dark staircase, which received all the light it possessed from a dome in the roof three floors up. All these stairs had Isla to ascend, for Mrs. Fraser was fully let, and she had had to retire to one of the attics when she was laid aside. It was a very bare room, but a bright fire made it fairly cheerful, and Agnes herself in a red flannelette dressing-gown, blushing all over her face, was in the middle of the room to welcome Isla when she reached the door. "I’m very sorry, dear Miss Isla, to bring you up all this way. But could I help it? Oh, what I have suffered bein’ shut up here, an’ the hoose at the mercy o’ thae rubbitch in the kitchen! Hoo mony times had ye to ring?--three or fewer, I’ll be bound." "No, only once--and don’t worry yourself, dear soul," said Isla, whose joy at sight of Mrs. Fraser’s homely and welcoming face could not be dimmed by the recital of sordid details. "I hope you are really getting better." "Oh ay. I’m to get doon the morn. I’m very sorry I’m no doon the day for ye. If ye had written I wad hae been doon. Noo I canna offer ye onything--no even a cup o’ tea. I wad never be sure hoo it wad come up." "I don’t need anything," said Isla, as she closed the door and put Agnes back in her chair. "I’ve only just come out from my breakfast at the Euston Hotel." "You’re not stoppin’ wi’ Lady Mackinnon, then?" "No. They are still abroad. They will not come back, I think, for about two months yet." Agnes looked a trifle puzzled, but sat waiting respectfully for further enlightenment. "Your little maid told me downstairs that you are full up when she supposed I was looking for accommodation," said Isla presently. "I hope she only said that to get rid of me. I want a room here, Agnes." Mrs. Fraser’s face flushed again with the quick nervous flush of the invalid who is not yet quite able to cope with everyday affairs.