had arisen. She did not seem to see him as she passed before him to reach the chair in which she sat down. In fact she expressed scarcely a shadow of recognition of her surroundings. But upon Granny Dixon had fallen a sudden feverish tremor.
"Who did she say yo' wur?" she cried. "I did na hear her."
The visitor turned and confronted her.
"I am Rachel Ffrench," she answered in a clear, high voice.
The dull red deepened upon the old woman's cheeks, and her eyes gained new fire.
"Yo're a good un to mak' a body hear," she said. "An' I know yo'."
Miss Ffrench made no reply. She smiled incredulously at the fire.
The old woman moved restlessly.
"Ay, but I do," she cried. "I know yo'. Yo're Ffrench fro' head to foot. Wheer did yo' get that?"
She was pointing to a flower at Miss Ffrench's throat—a white, strongly fragrant, hot house flower. Miss Ffrench cast a downward glance at it.
"There are plenty to be had," she said. "I got it from home."
"I've seen 'em before," said Granny Dixon. "He used to wear 'em i' his button-hole."
Miss Ffrench made no reply and she went on, her tones increasing in volume with her excitement.
"I'm talkin' o' Will Ffrench," she said. "He wur thy gran'feyther. He wur dead afore yo' wur born."
Miss Ffrench seemed scarcely interested, but Granny Dixon had not finished.
