‘You be’ant Muster Trevelyan, be you?’ said Mrs Crocket, looking at him very hard.

‘No, I’m not Mr Trevelyan.’

‘Nor yet “the Colonel” they doo be talking about?’

’Well, yes, I am a colonel.  I don’t know why anybody should talk about me.  I’ll just step out now, however, and see my friends.’

‘It’s madam’s lover,’ said Mrs Crocket to herself, ’as sure as eggs is eggs.’  As she said so, Colonel Osborne boldly walked across the village and pulled the bell at the iron gate, while Bozzle, crouching among the tombs, saw the handle in his hand.  ‘There he is,’ said Priscilla.  Everybody in the Clock House had known that the fly, which they had seen, had brought ‘the Colonel’ into Nuncombe Putney.  Everybody had known that he had breakfasted at the Stag and Antlers.  And everybody now knew that he was at the gate, ringing the bell.  ’Into the drawing room,’ said Mrs Stanbury, with a fearful, tremulous whisper to the girl who went across the little garden in front to open the iron gate.  The girl felt as though Apollyon were there, and as though she were called upon to admit Apollyon.  Mrs Stanbury having uttered her whisper, hurried way upstairs.  Priscilla held her ground in the parlour, determined to be near the scene of action if there might be need.  And it must be acknowledged that she peeped from behind the curtain, anxious to catch a glimpse of the terrible man, whose coming to Nuncombe Putney she regarded as so severe a misfortune.

The plan of the campaign had all been arranged.  Mrs Trevelyan and Nora together received Colonel Osborne in the drawing-room.  It was understood that Nora was to remain there during the whole visit.  ’It is horrible to think that such a precaution should be necessary,’ Mrs Trevelyan had said, ’but perhaps it may be best.  There is no knowing what the malice of people may not invent.’

‘My dear girls,’ said the Colonel, ‘I am delighted to see you,’ and he gave a hand to each.

‘We are not very cheerful here,’ said Mrs Trevelyan, ’as you may imagine.’

‘But the scenery is beautiful,’ said Nora, ’and the people we are living with are very kind and nice.’

‘I am very glad of that,’ said the Colonel.  Then there was a pause, and it seemed, for a moment, that none of them knew how to begin a general conversation.  Colonel Osborne was quite sure, by this time, that he had come down to Devonshire with the express object of seeing the door of the church at Cockchaffington, and Mrs Trevelyan was beginning to think that he certainly had not come to see her.  ’Have you heard from your father since you have been here?’ asked the Colonel.