Kate tried to protest and explain, but courage failed her. She only said, “Not yet, mother. I'm not fit to see him yet.”
“Say no more about it. Not to-day at all—to-morrow maybe,” said Grannie, and Kate clutched at the word, and answered eagerly—
“Yes, tomorrow, mother; to-morrow maybe.”
Before noon Philip had come again. Kate heard his horse's step on the road, trotting hard from the direction of Peel. He drew up at the porch, but did not alight, and Grannie went out to him.
“I'll not come in to-day, Mrs. Cregeen,” he said. “Does she continue to improve?”
“As nice as nice, sir,” said Grannie.
Kate crept out of bed, stole to the window, hid behind the curtains, and listened intently.
“What a mercy all goes well,” he said; Kate could hear the heaving of his breath. “Is Pete about?”
“No, but gone to Ramsey, sir,” said Grannie. “It's like you'll meet him if you are going on to Ballure.”
“I must be getting back to business,” said Philip, and the horse swirled across the road.