Why are you hiding the address from me?
Is it from some person whose handwriting we both know ?" She looked again at her silent mother--reflected--and guessed the truth.

"Give it to me directly," she said; "my husband has written to me." Mrs.Presty's heavy eyebrows gathered into a frown.

"Is it possible," she asked sternly, "that you are still fond enough of that man to care about what he writes to you ?" Mrs.Linley held out her hand for the letter.

Her wise mother found it desirable to try persuasion next.

"If you really won't give way, my dear, humor me for once.