This was the large front room on the second floor. Here was a warm fire, a cosy set of easy chairs, tables with work, a long mirror in the door of the wardrobe between the windows; a general air of comfort and household living. Antoinette's room opened into this, and the door stood thrown back, letting the fire warmth penetrate there also; and a handsome dressing table was visible standing before the window. Antoinette stirred the fire and sat down. Rotha stood at the corner of the hearth, charging herself to be cool and keep quiet.
"Where did you come from?" Antoinette began cheerfully. "We might as well get acquainted."
"Will that help you?" said Rotha.
"Help me what?"
"You said we might as well get acquainted."
"Well I want to know where you come from, to be sure," said the other girl laughing. "I always want to know where people come from. It's one of the first things I want to know."
"I come from Medwayville," said Rotha. "That is a place in the western part of the state."
"But you don't come from there now. I know you did live in Medwayville.
But where do you come from now?"
There sprang up in Rotha's mind an instant and unwonted impulse of reserve; she hardly knew why. So she answered,
"Mr. Digby brought me; he can tell you about the place better than I can."