 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 longe 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 tack discovered the way
