What was the use of wise words when a man was such a fool in nature?  And as for Colonel Osborne she would see him if he came to her three times a day, unless her husband gave some clearly intelligible order to the contrary.  She was fortifying her mind with this resolution when Colonel Osborne’s letter was brought to her.  She asked whether any servant was waiting for an answer.  No the servant, who had left it, had gone at once.  She read the note, and sat working, with it before her, for a quarter of an hour; and then walked over to her desk and answered it.

’My Dear Colonel Osborne,

It will be best to say nothing whatever about the occurrence of yesterday; and if possible, not to think of it.  As far as I am concerned, I wish for no change except that people should be more reasonable.  You can call of course whenever you please; and I am very grateful for your expression of friendship.

Yours most sincerely,

Emily Trevelyan.

‘Thanks for the words of the opera.’

When she had written this, being determined that all should be open and above board, she put a penny stamp on the envelope, and desired that the letter should be posted.  But she destroyed that which she had received from Colonel Osborne.  In all things she would act as she would have done if her husband had not been so foolish, and there could have been no reason why she should have kept so unimportant a communication.

In the course of the day Trevelyan passed through the hall to the room which he himself was accustomed to occupy behind the parlour, and as he did so saw the note lying ready to be posted, took it up, and read the address.

He held it for a moment in his hand, then replaced it on the hall table, and passed on.  When he reached his own table he sat down hurriedly, and took up in his hand some Review that was lying ready for him to read.  But he was quite unable to fix his mind on the words before him.  He had spoken to his wife on that morning in the strongest language he could use as to the unseemliness of her intimacy with Colonel Osborne; and then, the first thing she had done when his back was turned was to write to this very Colonel Osborne, and tell him, no doubt, what had occurred between her and her husband.  He sat thinking of it all for many minutes.  He would probably have declared himself that he had thought of it for an hour as he sat there.  Then he got up, went upstairs and walked slowly into the drawing-room.  There he found his wife sitting with her sister.  ‘Nora,’ he said, ’I want to speak to Emily.  Will you forgive me, if I ask you to leave us for a few minutes?’ Nora, with an anxious look at Emily, got up and left the room.

‘Why do you send her away?’ said Mrs Trevelyan.

’Because I wish to be alone with you for a few minutes.  Since what I said to you this morning, you have written to Colonel Osborne.’

’Yes I have.  I do not know how you have found it out; but I suppose you keep a watch on me.’