She paused a moment and looked at Cherry.
"D'you know," she continued meditatively, "I didn't want to make this trip down here this time. I wasn't comin', only King Howden told me to come an' get on talkin' terms with you. I didn't like you—but I came because he wanted me to. That's how much I like him, an' it's a whole lot. But I'm glad I came. I think I'll get to likin' you—I like you now—or I wouldn't tell you what I never told another soul in this part o' the world. The reason I ain't choosin' anythin' particular among the 'legible gents that's hangin' round is that I—I made a choice once. It was sure a bad one, but—I'm standin' by it."
"You're not married, Anne?" exclaimed Cherry in surprise.
Anne nodded in the affirmative.
"I was once, anyhow," she commented with a smile.
Cherry could say nothing in reply—so complete was her surprise.
"Just now," Anne added, after a moment of silence, "I'm doin' what most women have to do sooner or later—I'm stayin' round to keep my old man from makin' an ass of himself. The most of 'em will do it if they're left alone."
"Then he's here?" Cherry exclaimed with fresh surprise.
"Lord, yes—he's here," Anne replied.
When Cherry did not reply Anne took her hands and looked long and steadily into her eyes.