time, he thought, to hesitate as to whether
anything could justify him in making such a request.

Mrs. Hartley was treating Lettice very well at Florence, and had no
intention of letting her come back in a hurry. She did not see fit to
tell her of Alan's letter, for her recovery had been very slow, and
fresh mental worry appeared to be the last thing to which she ought to
be subjected. Nor was Lettice made aware of anything connected with Alan
and his troubles, although her companion heard yet more startling news
within the next few weeks. Mrs. Hartley had come to be very fond of
Lettice, and she guarded her jealously, with all the tyranny of an old
woman's love for a young one. The first thing, in her mind, was to get
rid of the nervous prostration from which Lettice had been suffering,
and to restore her to health and strength.

"We shall not go back to London," she said, in answer to a mild
expostulation from her friend, "until you are as well as ever you were.
Why should we? You have no ties there, no house, no friends who cannot
spare you for a month or two. By and by you can begin to write, if you
must write; but we shall quarrel if you insist on going back. What makes
you so restless?"

"I am idle; and I hate to have nothing to do. Besides, how can one tell
what is going on, so far away from all one's friends and connections? If
one of your friends were in difficulties or danger, would you not wish
to be near him (or her), and do what you could to help?"

"Of whom are you thinking, dear?" Mrs. Hartley turned round on her
quickly as she asked this question.

"I put it generally," Lettice said, looking frankly at her friend, but
feeling hot and troubled at the same time.

"Oh, it was a mere hypothesis?"

"Well, no; it was not."

"I am not questioning you, my darling. At least, I don't want to. But
you can do no good to anybody just now--believe me! You must get quite
well and strong, and then perhaps you can fight for yourself or for
other people. I don't dispute your title to fight, when and where and
how you like; and if ever I am in trouble, the Lord send me such a
champion! But get strong first. If you went out with your shield this
morning, you would come back upon it to-night."

So Lettice had to be patient yet awhile.

CHAPTER XXII.

LETTICE TRIUMPHS.

But there was news of another kind which Mrs. Hartley did not conceal
from Lettice. Her novel had been published, and it was a great su