“Not to-night; it would do no good; to-morrow is soon enough. I never like to make unnecessary trouble.”
The head which had been raised while Mildred spoke to Adam lay back upon the pillow, but not until with a second thought the sweet voice had said to him,
“I thank you, sir, you are so kind.”
As a creature of impulse, Anna felt a passing thrill of something like pride in Adam as Mildred Atherton spoke thus to him, and when as he passed her he involuntarily laid his hand a moment on her shoulder she did not shake it off, though her heart throbbed painfully with thoughts of her intended treachery. They were alone now, Mildred and Anna, and beckoning the latter to her side, Mildred said to her.
“He meant Herbert Dunallen. How did he know that I am to be Herbert’s wife?”
There was no tremor in her voice. She spoke of Herbert as a matter of course, while Anna could hardly find courage to reply.
“Mr. Floyd works at Castlewild sometimes, and probably has heard Mr. Dunallen speak of you.”
“Mr. Floyd—Adam Floyd, is that the young man’s name?” was Mildred’s next question, and when Anna answered in the affirmative, she continued, “I have heard of him. Herbert wrote how invaluable he was and how superior to most mechanics—his prime minister in fact. I am glad the accident happened here, and Herbert too will be glad.”
For a moment Mildred seemed to be thinking, then starting up, she said, abruptly,
“And it was Anna—Anna Burroughs, yes, I’m sure that’s the name. Would you mind putting that lamp nearer to me, and coming yourself where I can see just how you look?”