ns.'

'I really don't care anything about smoking,' observed Mutimer, with a
glance at Adela.

'Oh, you certainly shall not deprive yourself on my account, Mr.
Mutimer,' said the girl, good-naturedly. 'I hope soon to come out into
the garden, and I am not at all sure that my objection to tobacco is
serious.'

Ah, if Mrs. Mewling could have heard that speech! Mrs. Mewling's age
was something less than fifty; probably she had had time to forget how
a young girl such as Adela speaks in pure frankness and never looks back
to muse over a double meaning.

It was nearly three o'clock. Adela compared her watch with the
sitting-room clock, and, the gentlemen having retired, moved about
the room with a look of uneasiness. Her mother stood at the window,
seemingly regarding the sky, in reality occupying her thoughts with
things much nearer. She turned and found Adela looking at her.

'I want just to run over and speak to Letty,' Adela said. 'I shall very
soon be back.'

'Very well, dear,' replied her mother, scanning her face absently. 'But
don't let them keep you.'

Adela quickly fetched her hat and left the house. It was her habit to
walk at a good pace, always with the same airy movement, as though
her feet only in appearance pressed the ground. On the way she again
consulted her watch, and it caused her to flit still faster. Arrived
at the abode of the Tews, she fortunately found Letty in the garden,
sitting with two younger sisters, one a child of five years. Miss Tew
was reading aloud to them, her book being 'Pilgrim's Progress.' At the
sight of Adela the youngest of the three slipped down from her seat and
ran to meet her with laughter and shaking of curls.

'Carry me round! carry me round!' cried the little one.

For it was Adela's habit to snatch up the flaxen little maiden, seat her
upon her shoulder, and trot merrily round a circular path in the garden.
But the sister next in age, whose thirteenth year had developed deep
convictions, interposed sharply--

'Eva, don't be naughty! Isn't it Sunday?'

The little one, saved on the very brink of iniquity, turned away in
confusion and stood with a finger in her mouth.

'I'll come and carry you round to-morrow, Eva,' said the visitor,
stooping to kiss the reluctant face. Then, turning to the admonitress,
'Jessie, will you read a little? I want just to speak to Letty.'

Miss Jessie took the volume, made her countenance yet sterner,
and, having drawn Eva to her s