Mrs.Presty led her out to meet Kitty in the garden; waited until she saw them together; and returned to the breakfast-room.
Herbert Linley's letter lay on the floor; his discreet mother-in-law picked it up.

It could do no more harm now, and there might be reasons for keeping the husband's proposal.

"Unless I am very much mistaken," Mrs.Presty concluded, "we shall hear more from the lawyer before long." She locked up the letter, and wondered what her daughter would do next.
In half an hour Mrs.Linley returned--pale, silent, self-contained.
She seated herself at her desk; wrote literally one line; signed it without an instant's hesitation, and folded the paper.

Before it was secured in the envelope, Mrs.Presty interfered with a characteristic request.

"You are writing to Mr.Linley, of course," she said.