"I didn't mean to be impertinent," she said, "It was only because I love you so much and couldn't bear to find you in this horrid pokey little house and looking ill and tired. I don't see why you should feel ashamed of me when it was all my love that did it," and Gwen laid down the plates to find her handkerchief. Rachel's tender heart relented. "Don't cry Gwen dear," she said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "I know you didn't mean to do any harm; and as a matter of fact I am sure no harm has been done; but you must remember it does not do to talk over a wife with a husband. It is not wise." Gwen threw her arms round Rachel promising to ask Luke's pardon for speaking as she did. She assured Rachel she would do anything in the world for her. And she kept her promise. No sooner did she hear Luke open the front door and go up to his study just before dinner, than she ran after him. She was no coward. "I expect I was impertinent to you yesterday," she said, looking at him straight in the face, "at least Rachel tells me I was. I didn't mean to be; only I meant to tell you the truth and you know husbands do sometimes need the truth to be told them." Luke laughed heartily. "Happily," he said, "it was not the truth so it does not signify in the least. I shan't think of it again." "Oh but it was the truth," said Gwen flushing, "but I don't mean to say anything more about it. I might perhaps have said it more gently and in a more polite manner; and I'm awfully sorry that Rachel is ashamed of me." Luke fancied he heard a little catch in her voice and looked at her kindly. He could hardly refrain from laughing out loud at her. "Well you can put it out of your head and not think of it any more. I quite appreciate the fact that it was out of your love and anxiety for Rachel that you spoke as you did, and so we will be good friends again." Gwen looked down and her lips trembled. "Thank you," she said. "And you will take care of her, won't you." He patted her on the shoulder and told her to run away as he was busy. And Gwen, having no more to say, obeyed; but she felt rather small. She resented the pat on her shoulder just as if she were a child. She was not sure that she liked Luke at all. "I can't think," said Gwen after dinner, as she and her sister were sitting working in the drawing-room, "how it is that you don't show in the least that you do any house work. You look as dainty and as pretty as ever." Rachel laughed. "When I began to realise that a great part of my day would be taken up with dusting," she answered, "I bought the prettiest overall I could find." "You look as if you had just come straight out of the garden and ought to have your hands full of roses." Gwen looked with adoring eyes at her sister, adding: "But there is a new expression on your face somehow. I think you are really prettier than ever." "If so it is love that has made me so," said Rachel. Gwen laughed. "I don't quite believe that," she said.