"'I suppose it does. But if I come to live here I shall start either in a cottage, or quite a small house, with a sister of mine who has no home, poor child! How she would like to join me here, by the way.' "Mrs. Macdonald played nervously with the string of her apron. I could see I had appealed to her motherly heart by representing you as a motherless orphan. "'I suppose you haven't a second bedroom,' I suggested, following up my advantage. "'It's a slip of a thing; not fit for a lady, sir.' "'After all, ladies are much the same as other women; and my sister might have the bigger bedroom and I the smaller.' "'There's my John,' doubtfully. "'Doesn't he like ladies?' "'Not all of them, sir,' with a sudden burst of confidence. 'There's Mrs. Webster; she called here one day to know if I'd take in some of the washing--and he'd just come in from work,--and she marched into the kitchen and talked very loud. Though he's deaf he don't like no notice taken of it; and he told her it 'ud be time enough for me to work when he was laid by, and then he'd be sorry if I had to do it.' "'But, of course, if Macdonald does not like us we will leave at once,' I said, assuming that Mrs. Macdonald had agreed to have you. So you're to come, Sally; come as quickly as you can. Don't bring much luggage, for there is nowhere to put it; and pray remember to talk gently to our host. I cannot see why we should not double the size of this cottage--put in a bath-room, and get Mrs. Macdonald to do for us; but this will entirely depend upon your manners, you see. I was preparing to go out, when I saw a child's invalid carriage barring the entrance to the gate, and a child's clear voice was giving very impressive orders about the contents of a certain basket which was to be carried up to the door. "'You won't spill them, Nurse. You'll be sure not to spill them; they're so _very_ ripe they'd burst if you did.' "'No, darling; I'll carry them as carefully as new-laid eggs.' "The woman spoke like a lady; her tone was so gentle and refined. "I was standing at the open door of the cottage, and went down the path to meet her, asking if I could take in the basket to Mrs. Macdonald. "'But they are not for her; they're for you. But I'm afraid you're better and don't want them,' said the voice from the carriage outside. "'Whatever is inside that basket I'm sure to want,' I said, going out to my odd little visitor; 'but I don't quite know why you are so kind as to bring me things. I'm afraid there's some mistake; I shall be so disappointed if there is.' "The blue eyes that looked up into mine began to smile. "'Shall you really? There can't be any mistake, because last night, as Nurse wheeled me out of church, I heard daddy talking to Mrs. Macdonald; and she said she'd got the new squire at home, but he'd a dreadful headache and couldn't come.' "I could scarcely help laughing; I certainly had not intended my words to be accepted so literally.