It was high time something should be done.  Her plan was to go quietly and call on Miss Batchelor, and mention the facts in a casual way.  She would not mention Sir Peter.

So with the idea of Sir Peter in her head and a letter from Molly in her pocket, Mrs. Wilcox called on Miss Batchelor.  There was nothing extraordinary in that, for the ladies were in the habit of exchanging half-yearly visits, and Mrs. Wilcox was about due.

She stood a little bit in awe of a woman who took up all sorts of dreadful subjects as easily as you take up an acquaintance, and had such works as “The Principles of Psychology” lying about as the light literature of her drawing-room table.  But Miss Batchelor was much more nervous than her visitor, therefore Mrs. Wilcox had the advantage at once.

She knew perfectly well what she was going to do.  She was not going to make a fuss; that would do more harm than good.  She had simply to mention the facts in a casual way, without mentioning Sir Peter.  As for the separation, that was not to be taken seriously for a moment.

She began carelessly.  “I heard from Molly this morning.”

“Indeed?  Good news, I hope?”

“Very good news.  Except that she’s disappointed me.  She’s not coming to Thorneytoft after all.”

“I didn’t know she was expected.”

“Well, I wanted her to run down and entertain me a little, now that she can get away.”

“It would be rather a sacrifice for her to leave town just at the beginning of the season.”

“That’s it.  She has such hosts of engagements—­always going out somewhere.  She tells me she thinks nothing of five theatres in one week.”

Miss Batchelor raised her eyebrows.

“She must be very much stronger than she was at Thorneytoft.”

“She’s never been so well in her life.  Thorneytoft didn’t agree with her at all.  She’s been a different woman since they left it.” (This to guard against any suspicion of an attraction in the neighborhood.) “Nevill was never well there either.”

“I never thought it would suit Mr. Tyson.”

“No; it wasn’t the life for him at all.  He’s got too much go in him to settle down anywhere in the country.  Look how he’s roamed about the world.” (Now was her opportunity.) “You know, Miss Batchelor, there’s a great deal of nonsense talked about this separation.”

“There’s a great deal of nonsense talked about most things in this place.”

“Well—­but really, if you think of it, what is there to talk about?  He’s just gone away in a huff, and—­and he’ll come back in another.  You’ll see.  He has a very peculiar temper, has Nevill; and Molly’s too—­too suscept—­too emotional.  People can’t always hit it off together.”

“No—­”

“No.  And I think it’s a very good plan to separate for a time.  For a time, of course.  It’s her own wish.”

(Oh, Mrs. Wilcox!  But strict accuracy is an abject virtue when pride and the honor of a family are at stake.)