all person to prevent any disconnection
with it, solemnly crossed the hearth-rug, and placed the chair with
himself in it by Hester.

"You would like some tea," said Mrs. Gresley. "It is choir practice this
evening, and we don't have supper till nine."

But Hester had had tea before she started.

"And you are not cold?"

Hester was quite warm. The Bishop had ordered a foot-warmer in the
carriage for her.

"You are looking much better."

Hester felt much better, thanks.

"And what lovely flowers!"

Hester suggested, with diffidence, that they would look pretty in the
drawing-room.

"I think," said Mrs. Gresley, who had thought the same till that
instant, "that they would look best in the hall."

"And the rest of the family," said Hester, whose face had fallen a
little. "Where are they?"

"The children have just come in. They will be down directly. Come back
to me, Toddy; you are boring your aunt. And James is in his study."

"Is he busy, or may I go in and speak to him?"

"He is not busy. He is expecting you."

Hester gathered up her rejected flowers and rose. She felt as if she had
been back at Warpington a year--as if she had never been away.

She stopped a moment in the hall to look at her letters, and laid down
her flowers beside them. Then she went on quickly to the study, and
tapped at the door.

"Come in," said the well-known voice.

Mr. Gresley was found writing. Hester instantly perceived that it was a
pose, and that he had taken up the pen when he heard her tap.

Her spirits sank a peg lower.

"He is going to lecture me about something," she said to herself, as he
kissed her.

"Have you had tea? It is choir practice this evening, and we don't have
supper till nine."

Hester had had tea before she started.

"And you are not cold?"

On the contrary, Hester was quite warm, thanks. Bishop, foot-warmer,
etc.

"You are looking much stronger."

Hester felt much stronger. Certainly married people grew very much alike
by living together.

Mr. Gresley hesitated. He never saw the difficulties entailed by any
action until they were actually upon him. He had had no idea he would
find it wellnigh impossible to open a certain subject.

Hester involuntarily came to his assistance.

"Well, perhaps I ought to look at my letters. By the way, there ought to
be a large package for me from Bentham. It was not with my letters.
Perhaps you sent it to my room."

"It did arrive," said Mr. Gresley