'
'Don't let us talk of him, pet.'
'You are right; we mustn't. His name ought never to pass my lips,
only in my prayers.'
She grew calmer, and they sat hand in hand.
'Try to make your mother understand,' advised Letty. 'Say that it is
impossible you should ever accept him.'
'She won't believe that, I'm sure she won't. And to think that, even
if I did it only to please her, people would believe I had married
him because he is rich!'
Letty spoke with more emphasis than hitherto.
'But you cannot and must not do such a thing to please any one,
Adela! It is wrong even to think of it. Nothing, nothing can justify
that.'
How strong she was in the purity of her own love, good little Letty!
So they talked together, and mingled their tears, and the room was
made a sacred place as by the presence of sorrowing angels.
CHAPTER XII
The New Wanley Lecture Hall had been publicly dedicated to the
service of the New Wanley Commonwealth, and only in one respect did
the day's proceedings fall short of Mutimer's expectations. He had
hoped to have all the Waltham family at his luncheon party, but in
the event Alfred alone felt himself able to accept the invitation.
Mutimer had even nourished the hope that something might happen
before that day to allow of Adela's appearing not merely in the
character of a guest, but, as it were, _ex officio_.
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