'
'Shall I talk it over with Letty?'
'If you feel able to. But Adela would be very seriously offended if
she guessed that you had done so.'
'Then she mustn't guess, that's all. I'll see what I can do
to-night.'
In the home of the Tews there was some difficulty in securing
privacy. The house was a small one, and the sacrifice of general
convenience when Letty wanted a whole room for herself and Alfred
was considerable. To-night it was managed, however; the front
parlour was granted to the pair for one hour.
It could not be said that there was much delicacy in Alfred's way of
approaching the subject he wished to speak of. This young man had a
scorn of periphrases. If a topic had to be handled, why not be
succinct in the handling? Alfred was of opinion that much time was
lost by mortals in windy talk.
'Look here, Letty; what's your idea about Adela marrying Mutimer?'
The girl looked startled.
'She has not accepted him?'
'Not yet. Don't you think it would be a good thing if she did?'
'I really can't say,' Letty replied very gravely, her head aside. 'I
don't think any one can judge but Adela herself. Really, Alfred, I
don't think we ought to interfere.'
'But suppose I ask you to try and get her to see the affair
sensibly?'
'Sensibly? What a word to use!'
'The right word, I think.
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