‘Your mother doesn’t know he was coming?’

’No.  I don’t know why I haven’t told her, really.  I suppose we were talking so much of other things last night.  And then I only got home just as Alfred did, and he said at once that he had invited Mr. Mutimer.  Yes, I will go.  Perhaps I’ll come and see you again after church.’

Letty went back to ‘Pilgrim’s Progress.’  Her sister Jessie enjoyed the sound of her own voice, and did not offer to surrender the book, so she sat by little Eva’s side and resumed her Sunday face.

Adela took the road for the Manor, resisting the impulse to cast glances on either side as she passed the houses at the end of the village.  She felt it to be more than likely that eyes were observing her, as it was an unusual time for her to be abroad, and the direction of her walk pointed unmistakably to one destination.  But she made no account of secrecy; her errand was perfectly simple and with an object that no one could censure.  If people tattled, they alone were to blame.  For the first time she experienced a little resentment of the public criticism which was so rife in Wanley, and the experience was useful—­one of those inappreciable aids to independence which act by cumulative stress on a character capable of development and softly mould its outlines.

She passed the church, then the vicarage, and entered the hedgeway which by a long curve led to the Manor.  She was slackening her pace, not wishing to approach too near to the house, when she at length saw Hubert Eldon walking towards her.  He advanced with a look which was not exactly indifferent yet showed no surprise; the smile only came to his face when he was near enough to speak.

‘I have come to meet you,’ Adela began, with frankness which cost her a little agitation of breath.  ’I am so very sorry to have misled you yesterday.  As soon as I reached home, I found that my brother had invited Mr. Mutimer for to-day.  I thought it would be best if I came and told you that—­that we were not quite alone, as I said we should be.’

As she spoke Adela became distressed by perceiving, or seeming to perceive, that the cause which had led her to this step was quite inadequate.  Of course it was the result of her having to forbear mention of the real point at issue; she could not say that she feared it might be disagreeable to her hearer to meet Mutimer.  But, put in the other way, her pretext for coming appeared trivial.  Only with an extreme effort she preserved her even tone to the end of her speech.

‘It is very kind of you,’ Hubert replied almost warmly.  ’I’m very sorry you have had the trouble.’

As she disclaimed thanks, Eldon’s tact discovered the way of safety.  Facing her with a quiet openness of look, he said, in a tone of pleasant directness which Adela had often felt to be peculiarly his own—­

’I shall best thank you by admitting that I should have found it very unpleasant to meet Mr. Mutimer.  You felt that, and hence your kindness.  At the same time, no doubt, you pity me for my littleness.’