ed cried. 'And
the room must be five or six degrees below zero. Let's go to the fire.'

'I think I shall run over to Adela at once,' said Letty, as she followed
him into the hall.

'All right. Don't be vexed if she refuses to let you in. I'll stay here
with the youngsters a bit.'

The truth was that Alfred did feel a little uncomfortable this evening,
and was not sorry to be away from the house for a short time. He was
one of those young men who will pursue an end out of mere obstinacy, and
who, through default of imaginative power, require an event to declare
itself before they can appreciate the ways in which it will affect
them. This marriage of his sister with a man of the working class had
possibly, he now felt, other aspects than those which alone he had
regarded whilst it was merely a matter for speculation. He was
not seriously uneasy, but wished his mother had been somewhat less
precipitate. Well, Adela could not be such a simpleton as to be driven
entirely counter to her inclinations in an affair of so much importance.
Girls were confoundedly hard to understand, in short; probably they
existed for the purpose of keeping one mentally active.

Letty found Mrs. Waltham sitting alone, she too seemingly not in the
best of spirits. There was something depressing in the stillness of the
house. Mrs. Waltham had her volume of family prayers open before her;
her handkerchief lay upon it.

'She is naturally a little--a little fluttered,' she said, speaking
of Adela. 'I hoped you would look in. Try and make her laugh, my dear;
that's all she wants.'

The girl tripped softly upstairs, and softly knocked at Adela's door. At
her 'May I come in?' the door was opened. Letty examined her friend with
surprise; in Adela's face there was no indication of trouble, rather the
light of some great joy dwelt in her eyes. She embraced Letty tenderly.
The two were as nearly as possible of the same age, but Letty had always
regarded Adela in the light of an elder sister; that feeling was very
strong in her just now, as well as a diffidence greater than she had
known before.

'Are you happy, darling?' she asked timidly.

'Yes, dear, I am happy. I believe, I am sure, I have done right. Take
your hat off; it's quite early. I've just been reading the collect for
to-morrow. It's one of those I have never quite understood, but I think
it's clear to me now.'

They read over the prayer together, and spoke of it for a few minutes.

'W