ly. Of course Anna would come soon.
The Professor was very quiet, but she thought he turned his eyes towards
the door now and then, as though looking for some one. Was it Anna? At
last she was thankful to see him fall into a doze which lasted some
while, and she was just thinking for the hundredth time that Anna _must_
come now, when she was startled by his voice:

"Prissy," it said, quite clearly.

Delia went up to the sofa. Mr Goodwin gazed at her for a moment
without recognition.

"You've had a nice sleep, Professor," she said, smiling, "and now you
are going to have some tea with me."

But in spite of his sleep, the Professor's face looked anxious, and he
hardly tasted the tea which Delia prepared. As she took his cup, he
said wistfully:

"Did Dr Hunt write to Mrs Forrest?"

Delia nodded.

"Did--did Anna happen to come while I was asleep?" was his next
question.

"She's not been yet," said Delia, "but they may not have had the letter
till late. She will come soon."

"I should like to see her," said the Professor.

Why did not Anna come? As the weary hours went by, and the sun got
lower and lower, he became very restless, looked first at his watch and
then at the door, and no longer tried to conceal how much he wanted to
see his grandchild. Delia tried in vain to divert his mind by reading
his favourite books, but it was evident that he was not listening to
her. He was listening for the click of the gate, and the footsteps
outside. Every subject in which she tried to interest him came back to
the same thing, Anna, and Anna's doings. Delia could not help one throb
of jealous pain, as she recognised how powerless she was to take her
place, a place she seemed to value so little. But it was only for one
moment; the next she put all thought of herself aside. Anna belonged to
the dearest memories of the Professor's life. She had a place in his
heart which would always be kept for her, whatever she had done or left
undone. To bring peace and comfort into his face again, Delia would
have been willing at that moment to give up her own place in his
affections entirely. If only Anna would come!

"I suppose it's too late to expect her now, my dear, isn't it?" said the
patient voice again.

Delia could not bear it any longer.

"I think," she said, as cheerfully as she could, "if you don't mind
being alone a little while, I'll just run over to Waverley. Mrs
Cooper's here, if you want anything, yo