Then she remembered Dr. Annister’s suggestion and exclaimed, “Oh, by the way, I’ve a message for you!”
He listened with interest as she told him of Dr. Annister’s desire to see him and asked if he could either go there with her now or make an appointment for another day.
“It would be kind of you to go,” she added. “You have relieved my mind so much about Mr. Brand that I am hoping you can make them feel a little less anxious, too—especially Miss Annister. I suppose you know she and Mr. Brand are engaged!”
“Yes, I know it,” he answered curtly as he looked at his watch. “I have some leisure time now, a couple of hours, and I can go at once as well as not. I don’t know,” he went on doubtfully, “whether or not Miss Annister will want to see me. She is much prejudiced against me.”
Henrietta’s mind flew back to the decided opinions Mildred had advanced to the reporters, which, however, she was glad to remember, they had modified in their accounts.
“She was, some weeks ago,” Henrietta began reassuringly.
“And is yet,” he declared. “I happen to know that her feeling toward me is very hostile. And Felix has encouraged her in it.”
“She is so very much in love with Mr. Brand and so wildly anxious it would be a great kindness to give her even a little comfort,” Henrietta gently urged.
“I’ll do what I can,” he replied after a moment’s hesitation. He spoke slowly and his companion, looking up, wondered at the extremely serious expression that had come into his face.