"No, not ill," replied Mrs. Kay; "but she seems very much depressed at leaving home, and she has not left her room since we started."
"There!" said our sentimental lady triumphantly.
"I would like very much to see her," said Mr. Blair; "I have some good news for her."
"I will ask her to come out. It will do her good," said the stewardess, as she went away.
In a few moments she appeared, and, following her, came an old woman with white hair, and her eyes concealed by a pair of spectacles.
"Miss McMillan," said the stewardess, "this is Mr. Blair, who wanted to speak to you."
Although Mr. Blair was, as we all were, astonished to see our mythical young lady changed into a real old woman, he did not lose his equanimity, nor did his kindly face show any surprise, but he evidently forgot the part he had intended to play.
"You will pardon me for troubling you, Miss McMillan," he said, "but this basket of flowers was evidently intended for you, and was sent to my room by mistake."
Miss McMillan did not look at the flowers, but gazed long at the card with the writing on it, and as she did so one tear and then another stole down the wrinkled face from behind the glasses.
