Anne listened in acquiescent silence, her manner dry as the doctor's own. When the door closed upon his plump assurance, she smiled rather wryly. So she was to remain virtually a prisoner for days! What would people think? What could she say to put them off the track? She would have to invent some tale of having been called out of town, down to Virginia perhaps, to see her ailing, old aunt? She did not like it at all, this having to lie! With a helpless little shake of the head she walked over to the oval mirror and gazed rather cynically at her own reflection. She was glad Regina had sent the green jersey dress. It was becoming and informal, and brought out the russet tints in her hair. What a pity she was so pale this morning! It would have pleased her to look her most beautiful for Alexis' sake, but perhaps he wouldn't even notice? She patted her hair into order, a new and searching humility in her eyes. The door opened and the nurse stood upon the threshold. "Mr. Petrovskey is ready to see you," she said, her admiring gaze upon Anne's hair. "You don't mind if I time you? The doctor's orders were for five minutes only." Anne turned and faced the girl, outwardly serene, but her heart was knocking against her side. "Of course not. Please consider me absolutely under your orders, nurse. Shall I go in?" With a regal inclination of the head and shaky knees she swept by into the sick-room. Alexis greeted her from amidst freshened pillows. "I had a dream last night," he whispered huskily. His eyes leapt to hers like wind-blown flames. "They tell me it was true?" She approached the bed and stood looking down upon him. "If your dream was of me, I was here," she said simply, almost shyly. They continued to look at each other in silence. He put forth a thin hand and fingered her dress. "Anne--Anne?" he queried weakly. "Can I believe my eyes?" "Is it so difficult?" she replied. "My dear, they told me you were ill, and so I came." Sinking down into the chair next the bed, she took his groping fingers and stroked them gently. "Poor dear, poor dear." The fingers crept about her slender wrist and clung feebly. "I thought I'd lost you forever," he muttered. The gentle stroke continued. "That was foolish, Alexis." Her voice was barely audible. "You sent me from you in anger," he insisted mournfully. Anne shook her head, smiling at him with reproach. "Oh no, you were mistaken. I never sent you away. It was you who never came to see me again, or called me up! What was I to think or do? In a case like that a woman cannot, does not, want to take the initiative. Besides, I didn't even have your address." The searching eyes had not left her face for a moment, and as she concluded, they kindled hungrily. "Did you really want me to come back?" The question was an entreaty.