the afternoon, determined to be very
gracious to any one who could talk to her on the subject. She met no
one who could do so; though, for some time, society in Woodsome
divided itself very broadly into Mrs. Henry Filmer's friends and Mrs.
Harry Filmer's friends.

Anyway, the Filmers, old and young, kept the village folk and the
summer residents in delightful gossip and partisanship; for when a
lady was tired of one side, or considered herself slighted by one
side, she easily turned to the other; and thus, and so, the Filmer
controversy lived on through the season. At the close of it, the old
Filmers were in the ascendant. Mrs. Henry had given many fine
entertainments, and people liked them, for each fresh invitation
contained the possibility of being a reconciliation party; and each
failure of this hope renewed the life of the old grievance and the
interesting discussion of it.

On the contrary, Harry and Adriana were provokingly satisfied with
their own company. They were seen driving or riding together; and
people caught glimpses of them strolling among the flowers and shrubs,
or sitting together on the shady galleries; but they gave no balls, or
lawn parties, or afternoon teas, and they did not seem to care whether
friends called upon them or not. For new married couples have
generally a contempt for the rest of the world, and to love and to be
wise at the same time is a blessing rarely granted.

So the days danced away with down upon their feet, and there was no
talk of anything between Harry and Adriana than their own great love
and happiness--not at least for many weeks. But, as the dusty summer
waned, they began to think of the future, and to plan for its
necessities. In the winter they would certainly have to live in New
York, and it seemed, therefore, best to make their home there. Harry
was busy looking at houses for sale, and Adriana constantly going into
the city to examine their advertised perfections. An element of unrest
came into the beautiful summer nest, and something of that melancholy
which haunts the birds just before their migration. The May of their
lives was past. The time of labor and care was at hand. Even
financially, Harry began to be aware that the love that had made him
dream must now make him work.

So they watched eagerly for Miss Alida's letters. Hitherto they had
been full of traveller's gossip and complaints; but there had been no
mention of her return, and so far they had not b