The good-byes were quickly made, and, though her more kindly impulses prompted Isla to go down and speed the parting guests, she bade them good-bye at the drawing-room door with the slightest suggestion of stiffness, and left Diarmid to show them out. "Who are these people, Isla?" asked Drummond impetuously the moment the door closed. "He’s insufferable. Whence these airs of his? Who is he?" "A rich American, and they are likely to take Achree for six months, or perhaps a year," answered Isla quietly, realizing that the thing could not be any longer hid. Kitty gave a little exclamation of dismay, but on Drummond’s face the scowl rose again. "Let Achree! Heaven forbid! Isla, you won’t do it. It’s unthinkable--it’s--it’s, I want to say it, only I mustn’t. Kitty, go down and find the General. I must speak to Isla alone." CHAPTER V THE BRIDGE BUILDERS Kitty did not look so surprised as might have been expected. She walked with alacrity to the door in spite of Isla’s rather eager protest. "It’s my belief, Isla, that you shut up the poor old General to prevent people from seeing him. I should not be at all surprised to find him in the dungeon-room," she said saucily over her shoulder as she disappeared round the sharp turning of the stair. Isla reluctantly re-entered the drawing-room, fully aware of what was coming. "Don’t, Neil," she said, lifting a deprecating hand. "It has got to be done, so there isn’t any use of talking about it." "But, Isla!" he groaned, "it can’t be done. Why, it will kill the General! Does he know what is in contemplation?" "I have tried to tell him, but he can’t understand," said Isla pitifully. "He’ll understand quickly enough when it comes to the bit--when you take him away from the old house. Why, it’s the house he was born in, and he can’t leave it now when he is old and frail. It’s worth any sacrifice to let him have his last days in peace." "It is; but I have made all the sacrifices possible, and have reached the end of my tether. If somebody could awaken the sense of sacrifice in Malcolm it would be different." "Malcolm will be furious! Have you written and asked him, for after all he’s the heir, you know, and a step--a big, drastic, horrible step like letting a property--can’t be, or at least ought not to be, taken without consulting the heir." Isla smiled drearily as she dropped into a chair. Her old friend’s anger was quite understandable and natural; but, oh, if people only knew how futile it all was! "Listen, Neil. I thought of telling you the other day when we went to Glasgow together, but it was too new and raw then. Of course, that was the business I had to see Cattanach about. It is Malcolm who has caused this--who has wrought the red ruin of Achree."