"But you're not--not--I say, forgive me, I must say it--you can't be as old as that!" "I am twenty-nine," said Avery faintly smiling.
They had reached the letter-box.

She dropped in her letters one by one.
Piers stood confounded, looking on.
Suddenly he spoke.

"And you've been doing this mothers'-helping business for six years ?" "Oh no!" she said.
She turned round from the box and faced him.

The red winter sunset glowed softly upon her.

Her grey eyes looked straight into it.
"No!" she said again.