I hope you will remember that her health for a long time
has been anything but good, and that she was never accustomed to do
hard and coarse work.'
'We won't talk any more of this, mother,' Adela interposed firmly.
'I am sure you need have no fear that I shall be tried beyond my
strength. You must remember that I go with my husband.'
The high-hearted one! She would have died rather than let her mother
perceive that her marriage was less than happy. To the end she would
speak that word 'my husband,' when it was necessary to speak it at
all, with the confidence of a woman who knows no other safeguard
against the ills of life. To the end she would shield the man with
her own dignity, and protect him as far as possible even against
himself.
Mutimer smiled again, this time with satisfaction.
'I certainly think we can take care of ourselves,' he remarked
briefly.
In a few minutes they were joined by Alfred, who had only just
returned from Belwick, and dinner was served. It was not a cheerful
evening. At Adela's request it had been decided in advance that the
final leave-taking should be to-night; she and Mutimer would drive
to Agworth station together with Alfred the first thing in the
morning. At ten o'clock the parting came. Letty could not speak for
sobbing; she just kissed Adela and hurried from the room.
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