; she is not very easy to reason with.
I tried to make both sides of the question clear to her. But then her
prejudice against Mr. Eldon was very strong, and how naturally, poor
child! Young people don't like to trust to time; they think everything
must be done quickly. If she had been one to marry for reasons of
interest it might look like a punishment; but then it was so far
otherwise. How much better it would have been to wait a few years! One
really never knows what is going to happen. Young people really ought to
trust others' experience.'

Letty was only lending half an ear. The general character of her
mother-in-law's monologues did not encourage much attention. She was
conscious of a little surprise, even now and then of a mild indignation;
but the baby sucking at her breast lulled her into a sweet maternal
apathy. She could only sigh from time to time and wonder whether it was
a good thing or the contrary that Adela had no baby in her trials.

CHAPTER XXVI

Mutimer did not come to the Manor for luncheon. Rodman, who had been
spending an hour at the works, brought word that business pressed; a
host of things had to be unexpectedly finished off and put in order. He,
Alice, and Adela made pretence of a midday meal; then he went into
the library to smoke a cigar and meditate. The main subject of his
meditation was an interview with Adela which he purposed seeking in the
course of the afternoon. But he had also half-a-dozen letters of the
first importance to despatch to town by the evening post, and these it
was well to get off hand. He had finished them by half-past three. Then
he went to the drawing-room, but found it vacant. He sought his wife's
chamber. Alice was endeavouring to read a novel, but there was recent
tear-shedding about her eyes, which had not come of the author's pathos.

'You'll be a pretty picture soon if that goes on,' Rodman remarked, with
a frankness which was sufficiently brutal in spite of his jesting tone.

'I can't think how you take it so lightly,' Alice replied with utter
despondency, flinging the book aside.

'What's the good of taking it any other way? Where's Adela?'

'Adela?' She looked at him as closely as her eyes would let her. 'Why do
you want her?'

'I asked you where she was. Please to get into the habit of answering my
questions at once. It'll save time in future.'

She seemed about to resent his harshness, but the effort cost her too
much. She let her head f