him up-stairs. She stood at the bottom of
the wide stairway and pointed to a corner of the upper floor. "She's
in there--room on the right!" and so she stalked off to the kitchen.

Aleck Van Camp sought the region indicated by Sallie's gaunt finger
with some misgivings; but he was presently guided further by a clear
voice.

"Come in this way, Mr. Van Camp, if you please!"

The voice led him to an open door, before which he stood, looking into
a large, old-fashioned bedroom, from whose windows the white curtains
fluttered in the breeze. Miss Redmond was propped up with pillows on a
horsehair-covered lounge, which stood along the foot of a monstrous
bed. She was clothed in some sort of wool wrapper, and over her feet
was thrown a faded traveling rug. By her side stood a chair on which
were writing materials, Aleck's note and card, and a half-written
letter. Agatha sat up as she greeted Aleck.

"I am glad to see you, Mr. Van Camp. Will you come in? I ask your
pardon for not coming downstairs to see you, but I have been ill, and
am not strong yet."

She was about to motion Aleck to a chair, but stopped in the midst of
her speech, arrested by his expression. Aleck stood rooted to the
door-sill, with a look of surprise on his face which amounted to actual
amazement. Thus apparently startled out of himself, he regarded Agatha
earnestly.

"Will you come in?" Agatha repeated at last.

"Pardon me," he said finally in his precise drawl, "but I confess to
being startled. You--you bear such an extraordinary resemblance to
some one I know, that I thought it must really be she, for a moment."

Agatha smiled faintly. "You looked as if you had seen a ghost."

Aleck gazed at her again, a long, scrutinizing look. "It _does_ make
one feel queer, you know."

[Illustration: "It _does_ make one feel queer, you know."]

"But now that you are assured that I'm not a ghost, will you sit down?
That chair by the window, please. And I can't tell you how glad I am
to see you; for James Hambleton, your cousin, if he is your cousin, is
here in this house, and he is ill--very ill indeed."

Aleck's nonchalance had already disappeared, in the series of
surprises; but at Agatha's words a flush of pleasure and relief
overspread his face. He strode quickly over toward Agatha's couch.

"Oh, I say--old Jim--I thought, I was afraid--"

Agatha was touched by the evidences of his emotion, and her voice
became very gentle. "I fancy