Delia prepared to spend the rest of the day with her old friend, and having persuaded him to lie down on the hard little couch, and made him as comfortable as she could with pillows, she sat down in the window with her sewing. From here she could watch the little gate, and prevent any one from entering too suddenly. Of course Anna would come soon. The Professor was very quiet, but she thought he turned his eyes towards the door now and then, as though looking for some one. Was it Anna? At last she was thankful to see him fall into a doze which lasted some while, and she was just thinking for the hundredth time that Anna must come now, when she was startled by his voice:
“Prissy,” it said, quite clearly.
Delia went up to the sofa. Mr Goodwin gazed at her for a moment without recognition.
“You’ve had a nice sleep, Professor,” she said, smiling, “and now you are going to have some tea with me.”
But in spite of his sleep, the Professor’s face looked anxious, and he hardly tasted the tea which Delia prepared. As she took his cup, he said wistfully:
“Did Dr Hunt write to Mrs Forrest?”
Delia nodded.
“Did—did Anna happen to come while I was asleep?” was his next question.
“She’s not been yet,” said Delia, “but they may not have had the letter till late. She will come soon.”
“I should like to see her,” said the Professor.