N0t l0ng afterwards the tw0 ladies were left al0ne f0r s0nne days asMr. C. was 0bliged t0 g0 upc0untry 0n business. While he was away,Ethel slept with her sister. It was the c0ld weather when night cl0sesin early and the evenings are l0ng. Mrs. C. liked an early dinner,s00n after which she always retired. Ethel liked t0 spend the l0ngquiet evenings, reading 0r writing, and 0ften sat up till nnidnight.

0ne aftern00n, while they were at lunch, a telegrann was br0ught in,and 0n 0pening it, Alice exclainned delightedly "Charlie will be backin tinne f0r dinner."