"I am so glad that it will turn out a love-match after all," Maud replied, with enthusiasm.
The days came and went, and brought the early, bleak New England autumn. It was time for Sylvie to come home, but Bryant came alone. His wife had gone to New York with her family to stay for the beginning of the social season. Every one but her husband was secretly pleased when she stayed until after the New-Year festivities. Maud and Edith were quite sure that they had got along more happily without her, although they were too polite to hint such a thing to Bryant.
At last she came in the middle of January. Ida Hayes, her sister, a younger edition of herself, came with her, and straightway the halcyon days of Una came to an end.
Sylvie came to her room that evening, when she was putting on her simple blue silk dress for dinner, with an air of importance and anxiety.
"Have you come to your senses yet—you two?" she demanded, brusquely. "If you have, I shall be glad, for I do so want these rooms for Ida."
Una, with her laces all awry, looked up blankly.
"I—don't—think—I understand," she answered.
"Pshaw! I mean, do you use the same suite of rooms as your husband?"
The pretty, wondering face did not change its color, the dark eyes only looked amazed.