Ye're ower-well-looking, my young leddy, to be traveling alone." The time had been when Anne would have answered sharply enough.

The hard necessities of her position made her patient now.
"I have already told you," she said, "my husband is coming here to join me." She sighed wearily as she repeated her ready-made story--and dropped into the nearest chair, from sheer inability to stand any longer.
Mistress Inchbare looked at her, with the exact measure of compassionate interest which she might have shown if she had been looking at a stray dog who had fallen footsore at the door of the inn.
"Weel! weel! sae let it be.

Bide awhile, and rest ye.

We'll no' chairge ye for that--and we'll see if your husband comes.

I'll just let the rooms, mistress, to _him,_, instead o' lettin' them to _you._ And, sae, good-morrow t' ye." With that final announcement of her royal will and pleasure, the Empress of the Inn withdrew.
Anne made no reply.