e was terribly
shocked--as indeed were all who heard the story--and his resentment
against Alan increased. The news that they were happy together did not
produce the good effect upon his temper which Clara thought it might
have done.

It was Lettice herself who tackled Mrs. Hartley. She wrote her a long
and candid letter, very apologetic as regarded her conduct in Italy, but
quite the opposite when she spoke of what she had done since she came
back to London. The answer was short, but much to the point.

"I thought you would write to me," Mrs. Hartley said, in her note. "I
should hardly have forgiven you if you had not. There is some of your
letter which I cannot understand, and some which I do not quite agree
with. But come and explain it to me. I am an old woman, and have no time
to be angry with those I love. Come on Thursday afternoon--alone--and we
will have a good talk."

So Lettice went, and made her peace with her old friend, and was
admitted to her favor again. But Alan was on probation still. The last
thing which he would have expected, or indeed desired, was that he
should be received and treated by his former acquaintance as though
nothing had happened since he was a welcome guest in their houses.
Especially as he and Lettice had not yet settled the question which all
their friends were asking: "How would it end?"

CHAPTER XXXVI.

MISTRESS AND MAID.

Poor Milly Harrington had faithfully kept her promise of amendment. She
was as loyal and serviceable to her mistress as any one could be, and
evidently did her utmost to show her gratitude to Lettice, studying her
tastes, and, as far possible, anticipating her wishes. But it was plain
that she was not happy. When not making an effort to be cheerful as part
of her daily duty, she would sit brooding over the past and trembling
for the future; and, though she tried to conceal her hopeless moods,
they had not altogether escaped notice.

Lettice was troubled by Milly's unhappiness. She had taken deep pity on
the girl, and wanted, for more reasons than one, to save her from the
worst consequences of her mistakes. To see her, in common parlance,
"going to the bad"--ruined in body and in soul--would have been to
Lettice, for Sydney's sake, a burden almost heavier than she could bear.
For this reason had she brought the girl up to London and taken her into
her own service again; and from day to day she watched her with kindly
interest and concern.

Mil