She looked up "anchorite" and found that it meant "one who retires from society to a desert or solitary place to avoid the temptations of the world and to devote himself to religious exercises," and accepted this as a satisfactory explanation, though she couldn't imagine Ronnie engaging himself in religious exercises. Life ran normally at home, now that Mr. Sault was dead. Evie had felt very keenly the disgrace of having a lodger who was a murderer. Only the fact that Ronnie knew him, too, and to some extent shared in the general odium, prevented her from enlarging upon the scandal to her mother and Christina. Beyond her comprehension was her sister's remarkable cheerfulness. Christina didn't seem to care whether Mr. Sault was alive or dead. She was her own caustic self and the shadow of her proper woe failed to soften or sadden her. A week of her waiting had passed before Christina even mentioned the name of Ambrose Sault, and then it was in connection with the disposal of his room. Apparently he had paid his rent for a long period in advance, and Mrs. Colebrook refused to let the room again until the tenancy had expired. "Mother is being sentimental over Ambrose and his room," said Christina, "but there is no reason why you shouldn't have the room, Evie. You've been aching for privacy as long as I can remember." Evie shuddered. "I couldn't sleep there, I'd be afraid he'd haunt me." "I should be afraid he wouldn't," said Christina, with a little smile. "If you don't like the idea, I will have my bed put in there." "No, no, please don't, Christina," begged the girl urgently, "I--I prefer to sleep here if you don't mind. I want to be with you as much as I can and I'm out all day." "And home much earlier. Is it Ronnie or Teddy?" "I'm seeing a lot of Teddy," replied Evie primly, "he is quite a nice boy." "And Ronnie?" "Leave Ronnie alone," Evie turned a good-humored smile to her. "He is too busy to meet me so often." "Loud cheers," said the ironical Christina. "Evie--why don't you ask him to call here? I should enjoy a chat with him." "Here?" Evie was incredulous. "How absurd! Ronnie wouldn't dream of coming here." Christina laughed. "I won't tease you any more, Evie. Does he ever say anything about Ambrose? He was in the prison when Ambrose was executed." Evie writhed. "I wish you wouldn't talk about it, Christina--in such a cold-blooded way--ugh!" "Does he?" "I haven't seen him since that--that awful day," she said, "and I'm sure he wouldn't talk about it." Evie hesitated. "Do you think much about Mr. Sault, Chris?" Christina put down her knitting in her lap and nodded.