"What do ye ken aboot these pictures? hae ye e'er seen them before?" and before she could reply, Robert had rushed out of the cottage, into a woods near by, and as they returned home, they saw him peeping with a dark countenance at them from behind some trees. "I fear that we shall not see him soon again," said Mrs. Antrim; "he will have one of his dark spells, and we must let him seek us now." For weeks no tidings were heard of the poor man, and Mrs. Douglass began to fear that her mission was fruitless. It was some time before he appeared at church again, and bent on avoiding them, he went out at a side door, and they did not force themselves upon his notice. For several weeks it was the same--Mrs. Antrim hoped, however, that the loneliness of the cottage would bring him to their fireside in search of his little friend George. A salutation at the church-door, and a walk home with Mrs. Antrim, was the first encouraging sign; and the next afternoon, Robert was seen coming slowly up the garden path. "I think you had better not appear, Mrs. Douglass, until he asks for you," said the hostess. "I could na' stay awa' frae little George any mair, Mrs. Antrim; how fares the bairn?" "He has been asking for you every day, Robert." The poor man looked pleased, as he caressed the little fellow. After a few more visits, he asked for Mrs. Douglass. "Where is the Quaker lady, Mrs. Antrim?" "She will be here directly, Robert," and Mrs. Douglass appeared without her bonnet; a simple cap alone covered her fine dark hair. Robert looked long and earnestly at the face, as though he were studying the resemblance to some one whom he had known. "Did ye always live in America, ma'am?" inquired he. The question was unexpected. "I hae been here for some time, Robert." "Yer dialect is Scotch, ma'am; hae ye iver lived in Scotland?" "That is my native land, Robert." No more conversation passed at this time, and he took his leave. Absent again for some weeks, they sent to inquire, and found that he was very sick. "I will mak' a desperate trial, Mrs. Antrim; there hae been no progress yet in my mission; an' I maun try anither mode; let me gae this time to see him." "You may go, Mrs. Douglass, and may God be with you." Throwing off her Quaker dress, she assumed her former garb, and tremblingly proceeded to the cottage. Robert was very sick; confined entirely to his bed. She entered, took off her bonnet, and advanced to the bedside. "Stephen Bruce! my brother Stephen! dinna ye ken yer sister?" The countenance of the sick man darkened, as he replied, "Wha are ye that come to fash a puir sick mon by calling him by a wrang name?" "Dinna ye ken yer ain sister Annie, Stephen?" "My sister Annie is in Scotland," replied the man, thrown off his guard. "She is by yer side, Stephen, yer ain loving, faithfu' sister; she has crossed the deep ocean to find ye, an' God be praised, she has na' come in vain."