“Not at home?” repeated Dorcas, who had been very faithful to her young mistress. “Not when it's Miss Valery, who has been so ill? Oh, Missus, do'ee see Miss Valery.”
Mrs. Harper hesitated, and during that time her visitor entered uninvited.
“So, Agatha, as you did not come to see me, I have come at last to see you.”
“I am sorry”—
“What, to see me?” said Anne, smiling. But the voice was weak, and the smile had a sickly beauty. Agatha was struck by a change, slight, yet perceptible, which had come over Miss Valery.
“I hear you have been ill—will you take the arm-chair? Are you better to day?”
“Oh yes,” returned Anne, briefly; she was never much in the habit of talking about herself. “But you, my dear, how have you been this long time? Come and let me look at you.”
“It is not worth while. Never mind me. Talk of something else.”
“Of your husband, then. When did you hear from him?”
“Last week.”