"Without supervision?" echoed Lilly. "No, I should think not, indeed. You were nearly always there from start to finish."
"Was it I who proposed your riding about the open country with him alone?"
"You? Why, of course not. The first time we went without leave, and afterwards it was the colonel who wished it."
"Lastly, have I or have I not taken care to watch that everything was right in your room?"
"I am not sure, but I think so. You used, anyhow, to come in the last thing to say 'Good-night.'"
"Have you taken me for your enemy--your jailer?"
"Not exactly ... but I thought you didn't really care much about me."
Anna laughed a hard, cheerless laugh.
"Your utterances are very valuable," she said. "It proves to me that I haven't blundered in carrying through my scheme, and that I have nothing to reproach myself with."
"What scheme?" asked Lilly, quite at sea.