"Yes—I think so.... But he will have to come to-night."
She left the room, and for a while I stood by the window staring out into the night. Was it my imagination, or did I see the head-lights of a car coming over the pass in the distance? He would have to come that way if he'd crossed from Kyle to Lochalsh.... But they had vanished again, and I couldn't remember if the road dipped behind a rise there or not....
"Do you often go to London, Doctor Morton?" The invalid's voice was a little stronger, and I crossed to the bed.
"Very often, Mrs. MacDerry," I answered. "In fact, except when I'm abroad, I generally live there. At the moment I've come up here to work...."
"Ah! I see." ... She smiled faintly. "I haven't been to London for over twenty years. I haven't left Skye for over twenty years.... I suppose it's changed a lot...."
"Yes—I think you'd find it different to twenty years ago.... Motors everywhere instead of hansoms...."
"I've never been in a motor-car," she said, still with the same sweet smile. "I've been buried, doctor—just buried...."
"You could not have chosen a lovelier tomb," I answered, gently; and she nodded her head.
"Those are three delightful Corots you have downstairs," I continued after a moment. "I was admiring them before I came up...."
She looked at me quickly.