ow to wait."

May went up and kissed her silently.

"You are the only person I can speak to," said Lady Dashwood. "May, I
feel as if this couldn't be true. Will you read this?" And she put a
letter into May's hands. As she did so she saw, for the first time, that
May's hands were trembling. She drew the letter back and said quietly:
"No, let me read Marian Potten's letter to you. I want to read it again
for my own sake, though I have read it half a dozen times already."

"Mrs. Potten!" said May. "Aunt Lena, you'll think me stupid, but I
haven't grasped things."

"Of course not," said Lady Dashwood. "And I am too much excited to
explain properly. I suppose my nerves have been strained lately. I want
to hear Marian's letter read aloud. Listen, May! Oh, my dear, do
listen!"

Lady Dashwood turned the letter up to the light and began to read in a
slow, emphatic, husky voice--

"Dear Lena,

"Certain things have happened of which I cannot speak, and which
necessitated a private interview between Gwendolen and myself. But
what I am going to tell you now concerns you, because it concerns
the Warden. In our interview Gwendolen confided to me that she had
serious misgivings about the wisdom of her engagement. They are more
than misgivings. She feels that she ought not to have accepted the
Warden's offer. She feels that she never considered the
responsibilities she was undertaking, and she had nobody to talk the
matter over with who could have given her sensible advice. She feels
that neither her character nor her education fit her to be a
Warden's wife, and she shrinks from the duties that it involves.
All this came out! I hope that you and the Warden will forgive the
fact that all this came out before me, and that I found myself in
the position of Gwen's adviser. She has come to the conclusion that
she ought to break off this engagement--so hastily made--and I agree
with her that there should not be an hour's delay in breaking it
off. She is afraid of meeting the Warden and having to give him a
personal explanation. It is a natural fear, for she is only a silly
child and he is a man of years and experience. She does not feel
strong enough to meet him and tell him to his face that she cannot
be his wife. You will understand how unpleasant it would be for you
all. So, with my entire approval and help, she has taken the
opportu