"One has to reckon. A good many weeks. Nothing since the little scrawl written the morning after her birthday. I fancied the tone of it unhappy, and I wrote again soon; but she has never answered."
"I wish we could get hold of the child."
"I wish it too. She refuses invitations so persistently—yet I always feel sure that she does wish to see us again. There is some obstacle in the way. Not money, of course; for Dr. Bryant is well off; but something. Is it Mrs. Bryant?"
"Lettice never seems very fond of her. But after all we don't know much."
Then a pause.
"Mother, Mr. Kelly has come home. We shall hear him preach next Sunday." Prue had never spoken more composedly.
"He used to preach well."
"I have heard no sermons equal to his."
Mrs. Valentine could have sighed again.
"How do you know he has come back?"