‘Will you—­will you kiss it well again?’

The way in which she said it was as nearly pathetic as anything from poor Alice could be.  Her misery was so profound, and this childish forgiveness of an outrage was so true a demonstration of womanly tenderness which her character would not allow to be noble.  Her husband laughed rather uneasily, and did her bidding with an ill grace.  But yet she could not go.

‘You’ll promise never to speak—­’

’Yes, yes, of course I promise.  Come back to me.  Mind, shall know how you did it.’

‘But why?  What is she to us?’

‘I’ll tell you afterwards.’

There was a dawning of jealousy in her eyes.

‘I don’t think you ought to make your wife lower herself—­’

His brow darkened.

‘Will you do as I tell you?’

She moved towards the door, stopped to dry her wet cheeks, half looked round.  What she saw sped her on her way.

Adela was just descending the stairs, dressed to go out.  Alice let her go past without speaking, but followed her through the hall and into the garden.  Adela turned, saying gently—­

‘Do you wish to speak to me?’

’I’m sorry I said those things.  I didn’t mean it.  I don’t think it was your fault.’

The other smiled; then in that voice which Stella had spoken of as full of forgiveness—­

‘No, it is not my fault, Alice.  It couldn’t be otherwise.’

‘Don’t think of it another moment.’

Alice would gladly have retreated, but durst not omit what seemed to her the essential because the bitterest words.

‘I beg your pardon.’

‘No, no!’ exclaimed Adela quickly.  ’Go and lie down a little; you look so tired.  Try not to be unhappy, your husband will not let harm come to you.’

Alice returned to the house, hating her sister-in-law with a perfect hatred.

The hated one took her way into Wanley.  She had no pleasant mission—­that of letting her mother and Letty know what had happened.  The latter she found in the garden behind the house dancing her baby-boy up and down in the sunlight.  Letty did not look very matronly, it must be confessed; but what she lacked in mature dignity was made up in blue-eyed and warm-checked happiness.  At the sight of Adela she gave a cry of joy.

’Why, mother’s just getting ready to go and say good-bye to you.  As soon as she comes down and takes this little rogue I shall just slip my own things on.  We didn’t think you’d come here.’

‘We’re not going to-day,’ Adela replied, playing with the baby’s face.

‘Not going?’

‘Business prevents Richard.’

’How you frightened us by leaving church yesterday!  I was on my way to ask about you, but Mr. Wyvern met me and said there was nothing the matter.  And you went to Agworth, didn’t you?’

‘To Belwick.  We had to see Mr. Yottle, the solicitor.’