The Crow stayed on after all the other guests had left. He knew his
hostess wished to talk to him.
It had begun to pour with rain, and the dripping streets held out no
inducement to them to go out.
They pulled up their two comfortable arm-chairs to the sparkling wood
fire, and then Colonel Lowerby said:
"You look sad, Queen Anne. Tell me about it."
"Yes, I am sad," said Anne. "The position is so hopeless. Hector loves
her--loves her really--and I do not wonder at it; and she seems just
everything that one could wish for him. A thousand times above Morella
in intellect and understanding. All the things Hector and I like she
sees at once. No need of explaining to her, as one has to to mother and
Morella always."
"Yes," said the Crow. He did not argue with her as usual.
"It seem
