‘Mr Outhouse,’ said the Colonel, ’I have thought it best to come to you the very moment that I got back to town from Scotland.’  Mr Outhouse bowed, and was bethinking himself slowly what manner of speech he would adopt.  ’I leave town again to-morrow for Dorsetshire.  I am going down to my friends, the Brambers, for partridge shooting.’  Mr Outhouse knitted his thick brows, in further inward condemnation.  Partridge shooting! yes this was September, and partridge shooting would be the probable care and occupation of such a man at such a time.  A man without a duty in the world!  Perhaps, added to this there was a feeling that, whereas Colonel Osborne could shoot Scotch grouse in August, and Dorsetshire partridges in September, and go about throughout the whole year like a roaring lion, he, Mr Outhouse, was forced to remain at St. Diddulph’s-in-the-East, from January to December, with the exception of one small parson’s week spent at Margate, for the benefit of his wife’s health.  If there was such a thought, or, rather, such a feeling, who will say that it was not natural?  ’But I could not go through London without seeing you,’ continued the Colonel.  ’This is a most frightful infatuation of Trevelyan!’

‘Very frightful, indeed,’ said Mr Outhouse.

’And, on my honour as a gentleman, not the slightest cause in the world.’

‘You are old enough to be the lady’s father,’ said Mr Outhouse, managing in that to get one blow at the gallant Colonel.

‘Just so.  God bless my soul!’ Mr Outhouse shrunk visibly at this profane allusion to the Colonel’s soul.  ’Why, I’ve known her father ever so many years.  As you say, I might almost be her father myself.’  As far as age went, such certainly might have been the case, for the Colonel was older than Sir Marmaduke.  ’Look here, Mr Outhouse, here is a letter I got from Emily.’

‘From Mrs Trevelyan?’

’Yes, from Mrs Trevelyan; and as well as I can understand, it must have been sent to me by Trevelyan himself.  Did you ever hear of such a thing?  And now I’m told he has gone away, nobody knows where, and has left her here.’

‘He has gone away, nobody knows where.’

‘Of course, I don’t ask to see her.’

’It would be imprudent, Colonel Osborne; and could not be permitted in this house.’

’I don’t ask it.  I have known Emily Trevelyan since she was an infant, and have always loved her.  I’m her godfather, for aught I know, though one forgets things of that sort.’  Mr Outhouse again knit his eyebrows and shuddered visibly.’she and I have been fast friends and why not?  But, of course, I can’t interfere.’

’If you ask me, Colonel Osborne, I should say that you can do nothing in the matter except to remain away from her.  When Sir Marmaduke is in England, you can see him, if you please.’

’See him?  Of course, I shall see him.  And, by George, Louis Trevelyan will have to see him, too!  I shouldn’t like to have to stand up before Rowley if I had treated a daughter of his in such a fashion.  You know Rowley, of course?’