Annie felt inclined to stamp her foot.
“You little wretch!” she said. “Do you suppose I have no heart?”
“To be truthful with you, Annie,” said Mabel, “I do not think you have much; but that’s not the point. Are you really going with that—that dreadful young man?”
“My cousin, Mr Saxon? Yes; we leave here by the midnight train. I have about two hours longer to spend in the hotel.”
“Then what am I to do?” said Mabel.
Annie sat down determinedly.
“Let me think,” she said. She covered her face for a moment with her hand. Already she was beginning, after a fashion, to recover herself, to get back her aplomb, her great talent for double dealing. “Let me think,” she said again.
“Well, don’t be long,” said Mabel, “for time passes.”
“Yes; but if you will be silent I will have thought out something after a minute or two.” Just then Parker tapped at the door.
“Shall I let her in?” whispered Mabel.