es
had never regarded her with such a look as now.

'Adela, my darling! Don't, don't be angry with me!'

She sprang forward and tried to put her arms about her friend, but Adela
gently repelled her.

'If you have promised to say something, Letty, you must keep your
promise. Will you say it at once, and then let us talk of something
else?'

Letty checked a tear. Her trustful and loving friend seemed changed to
someone she scarcely knew. She too grew colder, and began her story in a
lifeless way, as if it no longer possessed any interest.

'Just when I had had tea and was expecting Alfred to come, somebody rang
the bell. I went to the door myself, and it was Mr. Eldon. He had come
to speak to me of you. He said he wanted to see you, that he _must_
see you, and begged me to tell you that. That's all, Adela. I couldn't
refuse him; I felt I had no right to; he spoke in such a way. But I am
very sorry to have so displeased you, dear. I didn't think you would
take anything amiss that I did in all sincerity. I am sure there has
been some wretched mistake, something worse than a mistake, depend upon
it. But I won't say any more. And I think I'll go now, Adela.'

Adela spoke in a tone of measured gravity which was quite new in her.

'You have not displeased me, Letty. I don't think you have been to blame
in any way; I am sure you had no choice but to do as he asked you. You
have repeated all he said?'

'Yes, all; all the words, that is. There was something that I can't
repeat.'

'And if I consented to see him, how was he to know?'

'I promised to write to him. He is staying at Agworth.'

'You mustn't do that, dear. I will write to him myself, then I can thank
him for returning the book. What is his address?'

Letty gave it.

'It is, of course, impossible for me to see him,' pursued Adela, still
in the same measured tones. 'If I write myself it will save you any more
trouble. Forget it, if I seemed unkind, dear.'

'Adela, I can't forget it. You are not like yourself, not at all.
Oh, how I wish this had happened sooner! Why, why can't you see him,
darling? I think you ought to; I do really think so.'

'I must be the best judge of that, Letty. Please let us speak of it no
more.'

The sweet girl-face was adamant, its expression a proud virginity; an
ascetic sternness moulded the small, delicate lips. Letty's countenance
could never have looked like that.

Left to herself again, Adela took the parcel upon her lap