The next morning Anita appeared in the dining-room at the breakfast hour.
Mrs. Adams scanned her sharply, and looked a little disapprovingly at the short, scant skirt and slim, silken legs of her new boarder.
Anita, her dark eyes scanning her hostess with equal sharpness, seemed to express an equal disapproval of the country-cut gingham and huge white apron.
Not at all obtuse, Mrs. Adams sensed this, and her tone was a little more deferential than she had at first intended to make it.
Will you sit here, please, Miss Austin? she indicated a chair next herself.
No, thank you, Ill sit by my friend, and the girl slipped into a vacant chair next Saltonstall Adams.
Old Salt gave a furtive glance at his wife, and suppressed a chuckle at her surprise.
This is Mr. Tylers place, he said to the usurper, but I expect hell let you have it this once.
I mean to have it all the time, and Anita nodded gravely at her host.
All the time is this one meal only, crisply put in Mrs. Adams. Im sorry, Miss Austin, but we cant keep you here. I have no vacant room.
The entrance of some other people gave Anita a chance to speak in an undertone to Mr. Adams, and she said;
Youll let me stay till Letty comes, wont you? I suppose you are boss in your own house.
As a matter of fact almost any phrase would have described the man better than boss in his own house, but the idea tickled his sense of irony, and he chuckled as he replied, You bet I am! Here you stay as long as you want to.
Youre my friend, then? and an appealing glance was shot at him from beneath long, curling lashes, that proved the complete undoing of Saltonstall Adams.
To the death! he whispered, in mock dramatic manner.
Anita gave a shiver. What a way to put it! she cried. I mean to live forever, sir!
Doubtless, Old Salt returned, placidly. Youre a freak arent you?
That isnt a very pretty way of expressing it, but I suppose I am, and a mutinous look passed over the strange little face.
In repose, the face was oval, serene, and regular of feature. But when the girl smiled or spoke or frowned, changes took place, and the mobile countenance grew soft with laughter or hard with scorn.
And scorn was plainly visible when, a moment later, Adams introduced Robert Tyler, a fellow boarder, to Miss Austin.
She gave him first a conventional glance, then, as he dropped into the chair next hers, and said,
Only too glad to give up my place to a peach, she turned on him a flashing glance, that, as he expressed it afterward, wiped him off the face of the earth.
Nor could he reinstate himself in her good graces. He tried a penitent attitude, bravado, jocularity and indifference, but one and all failed to engage her interest or even attention. She answered his remarks with calm, curt speeches that left him baffled and uncertain whether he wanted to bow down and worship her, or wring her neck.
Old Salt Adams took this all in, his amusement giving way to curiosity and then to wonder. Who was this person, who looked like a young, very young girl, yet who had all the mental powers of an experienced woman? What was she and what her calling?
The other boarders appeared, those nearest Anita were introduced, and most of them considered her merely a pretty, new guest. Her manners were irreproachable, her demeanor quiet and graceful, yet as Adams covertly watched her, he felt as if he were watching an inactive volcano.
The meal over, he detained her a moment in the dining-room.
Why are you here, Miss Austin? he said, courteously; what is your errand in Corinth?
I am an artist, she said, looking at him with her mysterious intent gaze. Or, perhaps I should say an art student. Ive been told that there are beautiful bits of winter scenery available for subjects here, and I want to sketch. Please, Mr. Adams, let me stay here until Letty comes.
A sudden twinkle in her eye startled the old man, and he said quickly, How do you know she isnt coming?
That, in turn, surprised Anita, but she only smiled, and replied, I saw a telegram handed to Mrs. Adams at breakfast and then she looked thoughtfully at me, and oh, well, I just sort of knew it was to say Letty couldnt come.
You witch! You uncanny thing! If I should take you over to Salem, theyd burn you!
Ill ride over on a broomstick some day, and see if they will, she returned, gleefully.
And then along came Nemesis, in the person of the landlady.
Im sorry, Miss Austin, she began, but the girl interrupted her.
Please, Mrs. Adams, she said, pleadingly, dont say any thing to make me sorry, too! Now, you want to say you havent any room for me but that isnt true; so you dont know what to say to get rid of me. But why do you want to get rid of me?
Esther Adams looked at the girl and that look was her undoing.
Such a pathetic face, such pleading eyes, such a wistful curved mouth, the landlady couldnt resist, and against her will, against her better judgment, she said, Well, then, stay, you poor little thing. But you must tell me more about yourself. I dont know who you are.
I dont know, myself, the strange girl returned. Do we, any of us know who we are? We go through this world, strangers to each other dont we? And also, strangers to ourselves. Her eyes took on a faraway, mystical look. If I find out who I am, Ill let you know.
Then a dazzling smile broke over her face, they heard a musical ripple of laughter, and she was gone.
They heard her steps, as she ran upstairs to her room, and the two Adamses looked at each other.
Daffy, said Mrs. Adams. A little touched, poor child. I believe she has run away from home or from her keepers. Well hear the truth soon. Theyll be looking for her.
Perhaps, said her husband, doubtfully. But that isnt the way I size her up. Shes nobodys fool, that girl. Wish youd seen her give Bob Tyler his comeuppance!
Whatd she say?
Twasnt what she said, so much as the look she gave him! He almost went through the floor. Well, she says shes a painter of scenery and landscapes. Let her stay a few days, till I size her up.
You size her up! returned his wife, with good-natured contempt. If she smiles on you or gives you a bit of taffy-talk, youll size her up for an angel! Im not so sure she isnt quite the opposite!
Meanwhile the subject of their discussion was arraying herself for a walk. Equipped with storm boots and fur coat, she set out to inspect Corinth. A jaunty fur cap, with one long, red quill feather gave her still more the appearance of an elf or gnome, and many of the Adams house boarders watched the little figure as she set forth to brave the icy streets.
Apparently she had no fixed plan of procedure, for at each corner, she looked about, and chose her course at random. The snow had ceased during the night, and it was very cold, with a clear sunshiny frostiness in the air that made the olive cheeks red and glowing.
Reaching a bridge, she paused and stood looking over the slight railing into the frozen ravine below.
Long she stood, until passers-by began to stare at her. She was unaware of this, absorbed in her thoughts and oblivious to all about her.
Pinckney Payne, coming along, saw her, and, as he would have expressed it, fell for her at once.
Dont do it, sister! he said, pausing beside her. Dont end your young life on this glorious day! Suicide is a mess, at best. Take my advice and cut it out!