CHAPTER XXXIII
THE PRINCESS AND THE DRAGON
Juanita Sterling moved restlessly about her room, doing this and that which had no need of being done. It was a mild day for late September, and she thought of a walk. No, it was nearly time for the afternoon mail, she would wait. If she could only get a note from Polly—or from David! One of Polly's notes had never reached the third-floor comer room! Since that, notes had been conceded to be dangerous. How she missed Polly's visits! She wondered now if Polly's interview with Mr. Randolph were really over. That report could not be entrusted to paper. She wished that her windows were on the front. She might go into Mrs. Albright's room—no, she had better remain at home, somebody might come. She took a book and sat down in the easiest chair; but her thoughts were not on the printed page. She slammed it back in its place with a mutter of scorn—scorn for herself.
"Shall I ever stop thinking—of him!"
Meantime, downstairs, the front doorbell had rung. Miss Sniffen answered it. She usually answered the bell nowadays.
Nelson Randolph stood waiting.
"Good afternoon!" he smiled. "I want to run up to those corner rooms and see how the light is, now that the windows are shut up. I think we may have to put in other windows on the side."
"Oh, no, Mr. Randolph, the light is very good, indeed! I don't think more windows will be necessary."
"Well, maybe not, then; but I'll just take a look at it, seeing I'm here."
She moved back slowly. "I think Miss Sterling is out; but you can see the first-floor room."