For half an hour they talked as mother and child alone can.

Then Adela walked back to the Manor, still dreaming.

She did not feel able to call and see Letty.
There was an afternoon postal delivery at Wanley, and the postman had just left the Manor as Adela returned.

Alice, who for a wonder had been walking in the garden, saw the man going away, and, thinking it possible there might be a letter for her, entered the house to look.

Three letters lay on the hall table; two were for Richard, the other was addressed to Mrs.Mutimer.This envelope Alice examined curiously.