 too, that with the
maiden hesitancy something else had gone, at all events in a great degree;
something that it troubled her to miss; namely, that winning persuasiveness
which had been one of the characteristics that made Adela so entirely lovable.
At present Mrs. Mutimer scarcely sought to persuade; she uttered her beliefs as
indubitable. A competent observer might now and then have surmised that she felt
it needful to remind herself of the creed she had accepted.
    »You were smiling when I first caught sight of you,« Letty said, after
reflecting for a moment. »Was it something in the book?«
    Adela again smiled.
    »No, something in myself,« she replied with an air of confidence.
    »Because you are happy, Adela?«
    »Yes, because I am happy.«
    »How glad I am to hear that, dear!« Letty exclaimed, for the first time
allowing herself to use the affectionate word. »You will let me be glad with
you?«
    Her hands stole a little forward, but Adela did not notice it, for she was
gazing straight before her, with an agitated look.
    »Yes, I am very happy, I have found something to do in life. I was afraid at
first that I shouldn't be able to give my husband any help in his work; I seemed
useless. But I am learning, and I hope soon to be of real use, if only in little
things. You know that I have begun to give a tea to the children every
Wednesday? They're not in need of food and comforts, I'm glad to say; nobody
wants in New Wanley; but it's nice to bring them together at the Manor, and
teach them to behave gently to each other, and to sit properly at table, and
things like that. Will you come and see them today?«
    »I shall be very pleased.«
    »To-day I'm going to begin something new. After tea we shall have a reading.
Mr. Wyvern sent me a book this morning - Andersen's Fairy Tales.«
    »Oh, I've read them. Yes, that'll do nicely. Read them The Ugly Duckling,
Adela; it's a beautiful story. I thought perhaps you were going to read
something - something instructive, you know.«
    Adela laughed. It was Adela's laugh still, but not what it used to be.
    »No, I want to amuse them. They get enough instruction in school.
