It's in her blood, of course; she
belongs so distinctly to an inferior class.'

'I am so very sorry for her,' Letty replied. 'What dreadful things she
has gone through!'

'Dreadful, indeed, my dear; but after all such things don't happen to
ladies. We must remember that. It isn't as if you or Adela had suffered
in that way. That, of course, would be shocking beyond all words. I
can't think that persons of her class have quite the same feelings.'

'Oh, mother!' Letty protested. And she added, less seriously, 'You
mustn't let Alfred hear you say such a thing as that.'

'I'm glad to say,' replied Mrs. Waltham, 'that Alfred has grown much
more sensible in his views of late.'

Adela entered the room. Letty was not wrong in saying that she grew more
beautiful. Life had few joys for her, save intellectual, but you saw
on her countenance the light of freedom. In her manner there was
an unconscious dignity which made her position in the house one of
recognised superiority; even her mother seldom ventured to chat without
reserve in her presence. Alfred drew up in the midst of a tirade if she
but seemed about to speak. Yet it was happiness to live with her; where
she moved there breathed an air of purity and sweetness.

She asked if Alice had returned from her walk. Receiving a reply in the
negative, she went out into the garden.

'Adela looks happy to-day,' said Letty. 'That article in the paper has
pleased her very much.'

'I really hope she won't do such a thing again,' remarked Mrs. Waltham,
with dignified disapproval. 'It seems very unlady-like to write letters
to the newspapers.'

'But it was brave of her.'

'To be sure, we must not judge her as we should ordinary people. Still,
I am not sure that she is always right. I shall never allow that she did
right in paying back that money to those wretches in London. I am sure
she wanted it far more than they did. The bloodthirsty creatures!'

Letty shuddered, but would not abandon defence of Adela.

'Still it was very honourable of her, mother. She understands those
things better than we can.'

'Perhaps so, my dear,' said Mrs. Waltham, meaning that her own opinion
was not likely to be inferior in justice to that of anyone else.

Adela had been in the garden for a few minutes when she saw Alice coming
towards her. The poor Princess had a bright look, as if some joyful news
had just come to her. Adela met her with a friendly smile.

'There is someone you used to k