« Alice said, speaking with
embarrassment, and pointing towards the road. »You remember Mr. Keene? I met
him. He says he wrote that in the Chronicle. He would like to speak to you if
you'll let him.«
    »I shall be glad to,« Adela replied, with a look of curiosity.
    They walked to the garden gate. Mr. Keene was just outside; Alice beckoned
to him to enter. His appearance was a great improvement on the old days; he had
grown a beard, and in his eye you saw the responsible editor. Altogether he
seemed to have gained in moral solidity. None the less, his manner of
approaching Adela, hat in hand, awoke reminiscences of the footlights.
    »It is a great pleasure to me to see you, Mrs. Mutimer. I trust that my few
comments on your admirable letter were of a nature to afford you satisfaction.«
    »Thank you very much, Mr. Keene,« Adela replied. »You wrote very kindly.«
    »I am amply rewarded,« he said, bowing low. »And now that I have had my
desire, permit me to hasten away. My duty calls me into the town.«
    He again bowed low to Adela, smiled a farewell to Alice, and departed.
    The two walked together in the garden. Adela turned to her companion.
    »I think you knew Mr. Keene a long time ago?«
    »Yes, a long time. He once asked me to marry him.«
    Adela replied only with a look.
    »And he's asked me again this morning,« Alice pursued, breaking off a leaf
from an elder bush.
    »And you -?«
    »I didn't refuse him this time,« Alice replied with confidence.
    »I am very glad, very glad. He has been faithful to you so long that I am
sure he will make you happy.«
    Alice no longer concealed her joy. It was almost exultation. Natural enough
under the circumstances, poor, disinherited Princess! Once more she felt able to
face people; once more she would have a name. She began to talk eagerly.
    »Of course I shall just go back to tell mother, but we are going to be
married in three weeks. He has already decided upon a house; we went to see it
this morning. I didn't like to tell you, but I met him for the first time a week
ago - quite by chance.«
    »I'm afraid your mother will be
