She could not come to any decision.
When at Alice's house she had not even suggested a return visit; at the moment it had seemed so out of the question for Alice to meet Mrs.Westlake.In any case, was it worth while exposing Stella to the difficulties of such a meeting when it could not possibly lead to anything further?
One reason against it Adela was ashamed to dwell upon, yet it weighed strongly with her: she was so jealous of her friend's love, so fearful of losing anything in Stella's estimation, that she shrank from the danger of becoming associated with Mrs.Rodman in Stella's mind.

Could she speak freely of Alice?
Mutimer's affectionate solicitude was honourable to him, and might veil much that was disagreeable in Alice.

But the intimacy between Adela and Mrs.Westlake was not yet of the kind which permits a free disclosure of troubles to which, rightly or wrongly, there attaches a sense of shame.

Such troubles are always the last to be spoken of between friends; friendship must be indeed far-reaching before it includes them within its scope.
They were still but learning to know each other, and that more from silent observation, from the sympathy of looks, from touchings of hands and lips, than by means of direct examination or avowal.

The more she strove with her difficulty the less able Adela felt herself to ask Mrs.Rodman to come or to mention her to Stella.