Obedient to the ring, Pamelia came, manifesting no surprise when told by
Anna to unlock the door and see if the little room was in order for
"Mrs. Markham."
Pamelia cast a rapid glance at Adah, who winced as she heard the new
name, and felt glad when Anna added: "Pamelia, I can trust you not to
gossip out of the house. This young woman's name is not Markham, but I
choose to have her called so."
Another glance at Adah, more curious than the first, and then Pamelia
did as she was bidden, opening the door and saying, as she did so: "I
know the room is in order. There's a fire, too; Miss Anna has forgot
that Dr. John slept here last night."
"I do remember now," Anna replied. "Mrs. Markham can go in at once.
Pamelia, send lunch to her room, and tell your husband to bring up her
trunk."
Again Pamelia bowed and departed to do her young mistress' bidding,
while Adah entered the pleasant room where Dr. Richards had slept the
previous night.
On the marble hearth the remains of a cheerful fire were blazing, while
on the mantel over the hearth was a portrait of a boy, apparently ten or
twelve years of age, and a young girl, who seemed a few years older. The
girl was Anna. But the boy, the handsome, smooth-cheeked boy, in his
fancy jacket, with that expression of vanity plainly visible about his
mouth. Who was he? Had Adah any knowledge of him? Had they met before?
Never that she knew of. Dr. Richards was a stranger to her, for she
guessed this was the doctor, 'Lina's betrothed, scrutinizing him
closely, and wondering if the man retained the look of the boy. And as
she gazed, the features seemed to grow familiar. Surely she had met a
face like this, but where she could not guess, and turning from him she
inspected the rest of the room, wondering if Alice Johnson were ever in
this room.
With thoughts of Alice came memories of Spring Bank, and the wish that
they knew all this. How thankful they would be, and how thankful she was
for this resting place in the protection of sweet Anna Richards. It was
better than she had even dared to hope for, and sinking down by the
snowy-covered bed, she murmured inaudibly the prayer of thanksgiving she
felt compelled to make to Him who had led her to Terrace Hill. It was
thus that Pamelia found her when she came up again, and it did much to
establish the profound respect she ever manifested toward the new
waiting maid, Rose Markham.
"Your lunch will be here directly," she said to Adah, who little dreamed
of the parley which had taken place between Asenath and Dixson, the
cook, concerning this same lunch.