When the curtain dropped they noticed her dejection.
"What ails you ?" they asked.
"Let us go out of London to-night," she whispered, and it was difficult to persuade her that she would see Brookfield again.
"Remember," said Adela, "it is you that run away from us, not we from you." Soft chidings of this description were the only reproaches for her naughty conduct.

She seemed contrite very still and timid, since that night of adventure.

The ladies were glad to observe it, seeing that it lent her an air of refinement, and proved her sensible to correction.
At last Mr.Pole broke the silence.

He had returned from business, humming and rubbing his hands, like one newly primed with a suggestion that was the key of a knotty problem.

Observant Adela said: "Have you seen Wilfrid, papa ?" "Saw him in the morning," Mr.Pole replied carelessly.
Mr.Barrett was at the table.
"By the way, what do you think of our law of primogeniture ?" Mr.Pole addressed him.
He replied with the usual allusion to a basis of aristocracy.
"Well, it's the English system," said Mr.Pole.