And then, as yet, she was childless and without prospect of a child, when, as she herself had said,--"so much depended on it." It was very strange to Alice that all this should have been already told to her.

And why should Lady Glencora think of Alice when she walked out among the priory ruins by moonlight?
The two hours seemed to her very long,--as though she were passing her time in absolute seclusion at Matching.

Of course she did not dare to go down-stairs.

But at last her maid came to dress her.
"How do you get on below, Jane ?" her mistress asked her.
"Why, miss, they are uncommon civil, and I don't think after all it will be so bad.

We had our teas very comfortable in the housekeeper's room.