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.

CHAPTER XXXIII

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.