"How soon will they be back, mother?" she asked.
"Not much before midnight, I'm afraid. But you must not fret after anybody, my child, for everything shall be done for you," said Anna.
Then the transparent young soul, in the fierce fire of its temptation, began to lay plans for deceiving Anna and for getting her out of the way. At one moment she said:
"Haven't you any errands to do this morning, dear--in the town, I mean--being left alone, you know, and even the servants gone?"
"Errands? Bless your dear heart, it's like Sunday in town to-day and not a shop open anywhere," said Anna.
At another moment Thora said:
"Mother, if you wish to go down into the kitchen to cook you needn't think of me?"
"The cooking is all done, dear," said Anna. "Maria did it yesterday, and I've nothing to do now but warm up the dishes on the nursery stove. So I needn't leave you for a minute, you see."
Thora was beginning to be restless in her perplexity, but presently she thought, "I know! I'll tell her to lie down after dinner, and then I'll get up and dress and go."
That suggested thoughts about her clothes, which had been taken off on the night of her attack and packed away somewhere. There would be drawers to open and search, and that would take time and make noises. So she said: