"Yes, dear."
For a few seconds she lay quite motionless, then, rising on one elbow, she passed the backs of her fingers across her lids, laughed sleepily, and straightened up, freeing her eyes from the confusion of her hair.
"I've had horrid dreams. I've been crying in my sleep. Come here," she said, stretching out her arms, and Kathleen went slowly.
The girl pulled her head down, linking both arms around her neck:
"You darling, can you ever guess what miracle happened to me yesterday?"
"No.... What?"
"I promised to marry Duane Mallett!"
There was no reply. The girl clung to her excitedly, burying her face against Kathleen's cheek, then released her with a laugh, and saw her face—saw the sorrowful amazement in it, the pain.
"Kathleen!" she exclaimed, startled, "what is the matter?"
Mrs. Severn dropped down on the bed's edge, her hands loosely clasped. Geraldine's brown eyes searched hers in hurt astonishment.