"Why, Anne, dear child, I thought you were asleep!" the deep voice said reproachfully. "I've been listening outside for ages, and you were so quiet!"
She raised her head quickly, and in a moment rose. Her eyes were deeply shadowed, but they bore no trace of tears.
"I could not sleep," she said. "But you mustn't trouble about me. I am quite well. I will dress and come down."
Mrs. Errol came forward, shaking her head disapprovingly. "I have a note from Lucas," she said. "It arrived a quarter of an hour ago, but there was no answer, so I thought it would be real wicked to wake you up to read it."
Anne stretched out a hand that shook. "Please!" she said almost inarticulately.
With the note open in her hand she turned and sat down suddenly as if incapable of standing. The clumsy, uneven writing danced before her eyes. One sentence only, but it took her many seconds to read!
"My brother Nap leaves to-night for Arizona.—Lucas."
She raised her face with a deep, deep breath. She felt as if she had not breathed for hours. Silently, after a moment, she held out the brief message to Mrs. Errol.
"My!" said the latter. "Well, thank the Lord for that!"
And then very tenderly she laid her hand upon Anne's shoulder. "My dearie, would it help you any to speak of him?"