An angry flush spread over her face. At first she believed that she saw here a deliberate insult; but with reflection she became satisfied that it was not intentional. It was simply another evidence of Mrs. Russell’s magnificent indifference. She sat down in that same little chair by the window, where she used to sit a year ago. A year ago! She had plenty to think of, there, until Mrs. Russell came back. Mrs. Russell at once began to blame Annie for having forgotten to attend to the room, but in a subdued voice, because she didn’t dare to let Annie hear this wickedly unjust censure. The maid hadn’t forgotten to get the room ready; it hadn’t been mentioned to her. She was summoned. "Annie," said Mrs. Russell, as if to share the blame, "here’s Miss Kennedy’s room not ready! I’ll help you with it." All she really contributed was her curious ability to create an atmosphere of bustle and cheerful confusion--the quality which had won her so much praise for her war work. When at last the room was ready, she had become frightfully bored with it and with Angelica, and was in a reckless hurry to be off. "Good night!" she cried cheerfully. "Ring, if we’ve forgotten anything!" And she vanished, leaving Angelica alone with Annie, who was just shaking a final pillow into its embroidered linen case. She set it straight on the bed, and turned, grim as death. "Well!" she said. "I never expected to see _you_ back here, that I didn’t!" She couldn’t resist saying that, although she knew it to be improper. She was too deeply affronted by the presence of this creature here, and by the necessity for waiting upon her. Angelica wasn’t offended. "No," she said, "I dare say you didn’t; but you’ll be still more surprised when I tell you I’m going to marry Mr. Eddie." "Oh, are you!" said Annie politely, with raised eyebrows. "And coming back here to live," Angelica went on, with a rather pitiful effort to win some sort of friendly interest. "I sha’n’t be here long myself. I’m going to be married, too." "That’s nice! When? Tell me about it." "It wouldn’t interest _you_." "Yes, it would. Is he the same one?" "Of course he is! I’m not one to be chopping and changing. Once I’ve given my word, I stand by it." This, very obscurely, was intended as a reproach to Angelica, and Angelica, though not conscious of any breach of faith in such a connection, felt none the less guilty before the righteous Annie. "I know," she said. "Well, I hope you’ll be happy, Annie." "I dare say I will. It can’t be too soon for me. The way things have changed here--I never saw the like!" "How have they changed?" Angelica inquired.