"Of course we do, but I'm not accustomed to them yet; and I've read till my eyes ache."
A few minutes later Granny ushered in a little old lady in a close dove-coloured motor bonnet. Her face was round and soft as a child's.
"How very kind of you to give us such shelter," she began; "and, oh!—if I may say it—what a charming room!"
"Now you've won my heart," said Rowena, holding out her hand. "Come and sit down, won't you, and talk to me. I am a prisoner, but I do agree with you that I have nothing to complain of in my prison. How does it happen that you are out on such an awful day?"
"It's my son, Robert; he has only just taken possession of his manse, and I've come to look after him. He had to see a sick man on this side of the loch, and so I wanted to see the country and he has motored me round."
"Is he the minister of Abertarlie? Granny Mactavish told me a new one was coming there."
"Yes, and from our snug little nest we look across at you; but we had no idea that any of the family were here."
"You are not Scotch yourself?"
"I am very Scotch by name—we are one of the Macintoshes, but you are right, I am an Englishwoman by birth."
"And so am I," said Rowena, smiling; "I have Scotch blood in my veins, and when I am in Scotland, I am Scotch. The English are a poor lot, you know! My brother only rents this lodge from General Macdonald. Do you know him?"