“I am,” was the reply. “Do you wish speech of her?”
“Would you beseech her to let me have a word with her at the casement?”
The girl turned back into the anchorhold, and the next minute the casement was opened, and the comely, pleasant face of Derette appeared behind it. She looked a little older, but otherwise unaltered.
There was nothing unusual in Stephen’s request. Anchorites lived on alms, and were also visited to desire their prayers. The two ideas likely to occur to the maid as the object of Stephen’s visit were therefore either a present to be offered, or intercession to be asked and probably purchased.
“Christ save you, Lady!” said Stephen to his cousin. “Do you know me?”
“Why, is it Stephen? Are you come back? I am glad to see you.”
When the natural curiosity and interest of each was somewhat satisfied, Stephen asked Derette’s advice as to going further.
“You may safely go to see Mother,” said she, “if you can be sure of your own tongue; for you will not meet Anania there. She has dislocated her ankle, and is lying in bed.”
“Poor soul! It seems a shame to say I’m glad to hear it; but really I should like to avoid her at Aunt Isel’s, and to be able to come away at my own time from the Lodge.”
“You have the chance of both just now.”