Hayley grinned.

"Dear, I am an old lady, and I do not waste my time with small talk. My sister told me there is a mystery you would like to solve, and perhaps I can provide some information for you."

"I am very anxious to know about some things."

"What would you like to know?' "I would like to know how our housekeeper Maddie came to work for my father."

"That seems like a simple enough question that should have a simple answer, but why would you ask me instead of your housekeeper?"

"It seems to be a secret she does not wish to reveal."

"Why do you not leave the issue alone?"

"I don't like secrets."

Anna laughed. "Unless you are the one who's keeping them."

"I don't have any secrets."

"We all have secrets. Secret hopes… dreams… fears."

"I think Maddie has a secret fear. When I start to get too close to something she acts afraid." Hayley paused for a moment. "But yet it seems she has also lost the ability to hope and dream."

"Why do you think that is true?" Mrs. Stephens asked.

"I don't think she lives the way she wants to, because she never talks about her future."

"Only young women dream dreams. Perhaps Miss Hawthorn is doing what she needs to do."