d."

"My darling, it would not be leaving Philip to take, say, a single
week's rest."

"While he went off without me I should not know where," she said,
sullenly; then gave her mother a guilty look and laughed again. "No,
no, mamma; he would not like it. A man does not like his wife to be an
incapable, to have to leave him and be nursed up by her mother. Besides,
it is to the country we are going, you know, to Scotland, the finest
air; better even, if that were possible, than Windyhill."

This was all that was said, and there was indeed time for little more;
for as the visit was unexpected the Hudsons, by bad luck, appeared to
take tea with Mrs. Dennistoun by way of cheering her in her loneliness,
and were of course enchanted to see Elinor, and to hear, as Mrs. Hudson
said, of all her doings in the great world. "We always look out for your
name at all the parties. It gives one quite an interest in fashionable
life," said the Rector's wife, nodding her head, "and Alice was eager to
hear what the last month's novelties were in the fashions, and if Elinor
had any nice new patterns, especially for under-things. But what should
you want with new under-things, with such a trousseau as you had?" she
added, regretfully. Elinor in fact was quite taken from her mother for
that hour. Was it not, perhaps, better so? Her mother herself was half
inclined to think that it was, though with an ache in her heart, and
there could be no doubt that Elinor herself was thankful that it so
happened. When there are many questions on one side that must be asked,
and very little answer possible on the other, is it a good thing when
the foolish outside world breaks in with its _banal_ interest and
prevents this dangerous interchange?

So short time did Elinor stay that she had kept the fly waiting which
brought her from the station: and she took leave of her mother with a
sort of determination, not allowing it even to be suggested that she
should accompany her. "I like to bid you good-by here," she said, "at
our own door, where you have always come all my life to see me off, even
when I was only going to tea at the Rectory. Good-by, good-by, mother
dear." She drove off waving her hand, and Mrs. Dennistoun sat out in the
garden a long time till she saw the fly go round the turn of the road,
the white line which came suddenly in sight from among the trees and as
suddenly disappeared again round the side of the hill. Elinor waved her
handkerchief