Twin Willows: A Novel by Kay Cornelius Page A

shouted Latin declensions and Greek stems at his pupils with an equal lack of success.
    Stuart hadn’t written to Anna, but she had not expected him to. Aside from the fact that he probably didn’t have the time to write, Stuart knew that his aunt reviewed all the mail that came for her charges, and read most of it before she passed it on. However, Anna mentally composed many long letters in which she poured out her heart to him.
    Finally, late one fine April Friday as they were gathered in the dining room for a cold supper, Anna heard a commotion at the back door. Shortly thereafter, Stuart Martin walked into the dining room as casually as if he had just left the room for a moment.
    Unlike Anna, Miss Martin seemed almost disappointed to see him. “Stuart!” she exclaimed. “You could have let me know you were coming.”
    “I wasn’t sure that I could get away until the last moment,” he said. Although Stuart’s glance did not linger long on Anna, something in his eyes made her know that she was the only reason for his impromptu visit.
    “Mr. Fogelman is using your room,” Miss Martin said. “He went to sup with his sister, but he will be back in a while.”
    Stuart waved a hand in dismissal. “Give me a blanket and I’ll sleep on the parlor floor. It certainly won’t be the worst place I ever passed a night.”
    A night
? Anna wondered, and hoped he would be there longer.
    “Only one night?” Miss Martin asked, with an opposite concern.
    Stuart nodded. “I’m afraid so.”
    Miss Martin looked at Anna and frowned, almost as if she had read the girl’s mind. Then she addressed her nephew. “It surprises me that you would even bother to come for such a short time.”
    “I am glad to see you too, Aunt.” Stuart spoke with such good humor that Rose Smythe giggled out loud, while several of the others found it hard to suppress their laughter.
    Miss Martin glared at them. “That will do, young ladies.” She turned back to Stuart. “I suppose you can join us for supper.”
    Without waiting to be told, the cook entered, bearing a pewter plate, cutlery, and a linen napkin. “Here you are, Master Martin,” she said. She set the plate where Stuart had always taken his meals, between Miss Martin and Rose Smythe, and across the table from Anna.
    Following the established rule, no one conversed during the meal, and as soon as it ended, Miss Martin dismissed the girls to their rooms, making it clear that they were not to linger in her nephew’s presence.
    Anna started to leave with the others, until Stuart called to her. “Miss McKnight, I would have a word with you.”
    Miss Martin watched closely, looking from one to the other as Anna returned to stand before Stuart.
    “Yes, Mr. Martin?” She tried to look past his ear, afraid of what her face might reveal if she looked him in the eye.
    “I wondered if you might have heard anything from your father.” When Anna shook her head, Stuart continued. “I recently spoke to a former soldier in our company who saw Colonel McKnight not long ago. When your father learned the man was coming to Pennsylvania, he told him he should look me up at Princeton.”
    “Did my father say anything about me?” Anna asked.
    “Only that you would soon finish school and return to Bedford.”
    “Oh.” Anna didn’t try to hide her disappointment that her father hadn’t said more.
    “Our friend assured me that Colonel McKnight looked fit. I thought you would want to know.”
    “I am sure Miss McKnight welcomes that news, but it could well have been put into a letter,” Miss Martin said.
    “Thank you for telling me, Mr. Martin,” Anna said aloud. Silently her eyes asked,
How are we going to see one another alone
?
    “Not at all. I think often of your father and the dangers we faced together.”
    “You may go now, Miss McKnight,” Miss Martin said pointedly.
    With her eyes modestly lowered, Anna curtsied. “Good evening, Mr. Martin, Miss Martin,” she murmured before she