She says that that affair with Gertrude Drayton was a sort of inoculation, and he's been perfectly healthy ever since." "Very coarse in dear Adele to speak in that way," said Miss Deborah sharply.

"I suppose he never has gotten over Gertrude's loss.

Yet, if his sister-in-law had to die, it is a pity it wasn't a little sooner.

He was too old when she died to think of marriage." "But, dear Deborah, he is not quite too old even yet, if he found a person of proper age.

Not too young, and, of course, not too old." Miss Deborah did not reply immediately.