Then Trevelyan felt that there was indeed no one left
to him but Bozzle. On the following morning he
saw Bozzle, and on the evening of the next day he
was in Paris.
HUGH STANBURY SMOKES ANOTHER PIPE
Trevelyan was gone, and Bozzle alone knew his address.
During the first fortnight of her residence at St.
Diddulph’s Mrs Trevelyan received two letters
from Lady Milborough, in both of which she was recommended,
indeed tenderly implored, to be submissive to her husband.
‘Anything,’ said Lady Milborough, ‘is
better than separation.’ In answer to the
second letter Mrs Trevelyan told the old lady that
she had no means by which she could shew any submission
to her husband, even if she were so minded. Her
husband had gone away, she did not know whither, and
she had no means by which she could communicate with
him. And then came a packet to her from her father
and mother, despatched from the islands after the
receipt by Lady Rowley of the melancholy tidings of
the journey to Nuncombe Putney. Both Sir Marmaduke
and Lady Rowley were full of anger against Trevelyan,
and wrote as though the husband could certainly be
brought back to a sense of his duty, if they only were
present. This packet had been at Nuncombe Putney,
and contained a sealed note from Sir Marmaduke addressed
to Mr Trevelyan. Lady Rowley explained that it
was impossible that they should get to England earlier
than in the spring. ’I would come myself
at once and leave papa to follow,’ said Lady
Rowley, ’only for the children. If I were
to bring them, I must take a house for them, and the
expense would ruin us. Papa has written to Mr
Trevelyan in a way that he thinks will bring him to
reason.’
But how was this letter, by which the husband was
to be brought to reason, to be put into the husband’s
hands? Mrs Trevelyan applied to Mr Bideawhile
and to Lady Milborough, and to Stanbury, for Trevelyan’s
address; but was told by each of them that nothing
was known of his whereabouts. She did not apply
to Mr Bozzle, although Mr Bozzle was more than once
in her neighbourhood; but as yet she knew nothing of
Mr Bozzle. The replies from Mr Bideawhile and
from Lady Milborough came by the post; but Hugh Stanbury
thought that duty required him to make another journey
to St. Diddulph’s and carry his own answer with
him.
And on this occasion Fortune was either very kind
to him or very unkind. Whichever it was, he found
himself alone for a few seconds in the parsonage parlour
with Nora Rowley. Mr Outhouse was away at the
time. Emily had gone upstairs for the boy; and
Mrs Outhouse, suspecting nothing, had followed her.
‘Miss Rowley,’ said he, getting up from
his seat, ’if you think it will do any good
I will follow Trevelyan till I find him.’
’How can you find him? Besides, why should
you give up your own business?’
‘I would do anything to serve your sister.’
This he said with hesitation in his voice, as though
he did not dare to speak all that he desired to have
spoken.
