It was the busiest hour of that good woman’s day, because her first floor came in to dinner at half-past seven and it was now half-past six. But when she heard who it was that had asked for her she ran up the kitchen stairs, several steps at a time. "Oh, Miss Isla, excuse my apron and the flour on my hands. But I couldna wait. I’m terribly busy jist for a meenit or twa. Can you come in and wait till I get the denners fairly on the road? It’ll no tak’ me mair nor a quarter o’ an ’oor." "I can’t wait, dear woman--at least not now. I didn’t mean to see you to-night, really, but I had business in this neighbourhood, and I just ran in for a look at you. I shall be in Glenogle to-morrow night." "Yes," said Agnes breathlessly. "And it is true that ye are going to marry Mr. Drummond? I’ve aye been expeckin’ to hear from yoursel’ aboot it. But Elspeth Maclure says that it’s quite true and that everybody is pleased I am, I’m sure. I jist sat doon and had a guid greet when Elspeth’s letter cam’. And Andra lauched at me and said it wasna a thing to greet ower. But that wass hoo I felt." Isla nodded, and her proud mouth trembled. "You’re lookin’ fine--quite like yersel’," resumed Agnes. "And when is it to be, Miss Isla? Oh, hang their denners! Come in here and let me hear ye speak." But Isla, laughing a little hysterically, shook her head, and began to move towards the door. "It was very bad of me not to write, but I’ve been passing through all sorts of phases, Agnes, and even now I don’t know quite where I am. When I get home I’ll sit down and write you a very long letter. Have you seen the ’Morning Post’ to-day with the announcement of my brother’s engagement to Mrs. Rodney Payne?" "No, but that news was in Elspeth’s letter, too, and so Achree is on the mend again, thank God. Are ye awa’? Oh, I am sorry, Miss Isla! I would have liked to keep you for the nicht. Can ye not come back?" "Not to-night. But probably I shall be in London again soon. Good night, dear soul, and thank you very much. Whatever the future may hold for me, Agnes Fraser will have a warm place in it. I hope that some day I shall be able to thank you properly for all you did for me." Agnes was able to give only a very divided attention to the cooking when she returned to the gloom of her underground kitchen, while Isla rode back the way she had come, singularly out of love with life. She had done no good by her impetuous journey--none at all. She was half minded to take the night mail to Calais again and throw herself once more on the tender mercies of Lady Betty. Her uppermost feeling was one of shrinking from Glenogle and all that might happen there.