Within a week of the occurrence which is related in the last chapter, there came a telegram from Southampton to the parsonage at St. Diddulph’s, saying that Sir Marmaduke and Lady Rowley had reached England.  On the evening of that day they were to lodge at a small family hotel in Baker Street, and both Mrs Trevelyan and Nora were to be with them.  The leave-taking at the parsonage was painful, as on both sides there existed a feeling that affection and sympathy were wanting.  The uncle and aunt had done their duty, and both Mrs Trevelyan and Nora felt that they ought to have been demonstrative and cordial in their gratitude, but they found it impossible to become so.  And the rector could not pretend but that he was glad to be rid of his guests.  There were, too, some last words about money to be spoken, which were grievous thorns in the poor man’s flesh.  Two bank notes, however, were put upon his table, and he knew that unless he took them he could not pay for the provisions which his unwelcome visitors had consumed.  Surely there never was a man so cruelly ill-used as had been Mr Outhouse in all this matter.  ’Another such winter as that would put me in my grave,’ he said, when his wife tried to comfort him after they were gone.  ‘I know that they have both been very good to us,’ said Mrs Trevelyan, as she and her sister, together with the child and the nurse, hurried away toward Baker Street in a cab, ’but I have never for a moment felt that they were glad to have us.’  ’But how could they have been glad to have us,’ she added afterwards, ’when we brought such trouble with us?’ But they to whom they were going now would receive her with joy, would make her welcome with all her load of sorrows, would give to her a sympathy which it was impossible that she should receive from others.  Though she might not be happy now, for in truth how could she be ever really happy again, there would be a joy to her in placing her child in her mother’s arms, and in receiving her father’s warm caresses.  That her father would be very vehement in his anger against her husband she knew well, for Sir Marmaduke was a vehement man.  But there would be some support for her in the very violence of his wrath, and at this moment it was such support that she most needed.  As they journeyed together in the cab, the married sister seemed to be in the higher spirits of the two.  She was sure, at any rate, that those to whom she was going would place themselves on her side.  Nora had her own story to tell about Hugh Stanbury, and was by no means so sure that her tale would be received with cordial agreement.  ’Let me tell them myself,’ she whispered to her sister.  ’Not to-night, because they will have so much to say to you; but I shall tell mamma to-morrow.’

The train by which the Rowleys were to reach London was due at the station at 7.30 p.m., and the two sisters timed their despatch from St. Diddulph’s so as to enable them to reach the hotel at eight.  ’We shall be there now before mamma,’ said Nora, ’because they will have so much luggage, and so many things, and the trains are always late.’  When they started from the door of the parsonage, Mr Outhouse gave the direction to the cabman, ‘Gregg’s Hotel, Baker Street.’  Then at once he began to console himself in that they were gone.