And John’s Ernest was so exquisitely modest and diffident, and yet had an almost permanent humorous smile.  But the paramount expression on his face was honesty.  She had never hitherto missed the expression of honesty on Louis’ face, but she realized now that it was not there....  And she had been adjudged worthy of John’s Ernest!  The powerful of the world had had their eyes on her!  Not Louis alone had noted her!  Had Fate chosen, and had she herself chosen, that very motor-car might have been hers, and she at that instant riding in it as the mistress thereof!  Strange thoughts, which intensely flattered and fostered her self-esteem.  But she still had the horrible secret to carry with her.

When the car stopped in front of her gate, she forced open the door and jumped down with almost hysterical speed, said “Good-bye” and “Thank you” to John’s Ernest, who becomingly blushed, and ran round the back of the car with her purchases.  The car went on up the lane, the intention of John’s Ernest being evident to proceed along Park Road and the Moorthorne ridge to Hanbridge rather than turn the car in the somewhat narrow lane.  Rachel, instead of entering the house, thrust her parcels frantically on to the top step against the front door, and rushed down the steps again and down the lane.  In a minute she was overtaking a man.

“Louis!” she cried.

From the car she had seen the incredible vision of Louis walking down the lane from the house.  He and John’s Ernest had not noticed each other, nor had Louis noticed that his wife was in the car.

Louis stopped now and looked back, hesitant.

There he was, with his plastered, pale face all streaked with greyish-white lines!  Really Rachel had difficulty in believing her eyes.  She had left him in bed, weak, broken; and he was there in the road fully dressed for the town and making for the town—­a dreadful sight, but indubitably moving unaided on his own legs.  It was simply monstrous!  Fury leaped up in her.  She had never heard of anything more monstrous.  The thing was an absolute outrage on her nursing of him.

“Are you stark, staring mad?” she demanded.

He stood weakly regarding her.  It was clear that he was already very enfeebled by his fantastic exertions.

“I wonder how much farther you would have gone without falling!” she said.  “I’ll thank you to come back this very instant!...  This very instant!”

He had no strength to withstand her impetuous anger.  His lower lip fell.  He obeyed with some inarticulate words.

“And I should like to know what Mrs. Tams was doing!” said Rachel.

She neither guessed nor cared what was the intention of Louis’ shocking, impossible escapade.  She grasped his arm firmly.  In ten minutes he was in bed again, under control, and Rachel was venting herself on Mrs. Tams, who took oath that she had been utterly unaware of the master’s departure from the house.