That evening Miss Stanbury and Dorothy went out to tea at the house of Mrs MacHugh, and there the matter was very much discussed.  The family of the Trevelyans was known by name in these parts, and the fact of Mrs Trevelyan having been sent to live in a Devonshire village, with Devonshire ladies who had a relation in Exeter so well esteemed as Miss Stanbury of the Close, were circumstances of themselves sufficient to ensure a considerable amount of prestige at the city tea-table for the tidings of this unfortunate family quarrel.  Some reticence was of course necessary because of the presence of Miss Stanbury and of Dorothy.  To Miss Stanbury herself Mrs MacHugh and Mrs Crumbie, of Cronstadt House, did not scruple to express themselves very plainly, and to whisper a question as to what was to be done should the lover make his appearance at Nuncombe Putney; but they who spoke of the matter before Dorothy, were at first more charitable, or, at least, more forbearing.  Mr Gibson, who was one of the minor canons, and the two Miss Frenches from Heavitree, who had the reputation of hunting unmarried clergymen in couples, seemed to have heard all about it.  When Mrs MacHugh and Miss Stanbury, with Mr and Mrs Crumbie, had seated themselves at their whist-table, the younger people were able to express their opinions without danger of interruption or of rebuke.  It was known to all Exeter by this time, that Dorothy Stanbury’s mother had gone to the Clock House, and that she had done so in order that Mrs Trevelyan might have a home.  But it was not yet known whether anybody had called upon them.  There was Mrs Merton, the wife of the present parson of Nuncombe, who had known the Stanburys for the last twenty years; and there was Mrs Ellison of Lessboro’, who lived only four miles from Nuncombe, and who kept a pony-carriage.  It would be a great thing to know how these ladies had behaved in so difficult and embarrassing a position.  Mrs Trevelyan and her sister had now been at Nuncombe Putney for more than a fortnight, and something in that matter of calling must have been done or have been left undone.  In answer to an ingeniously-framed question asked by Camilla French, Dorothy at once set the matter at rest.  ‘Mrs Merton,’ said Camilla French, ’must find it a great thing to have two new ladies come to the village, especially now that she has lost you, Miss Stanbury?’

‘Mamma tells me,’ said Dorothy, ’that Mrs Trevelyan and Miss Rowley do not mean to know anybody.  They have given it out quite plainly, so that there should be no mistake.’

‘Dear, dear!’ said Camilla French.

‘I dare say it’s for the best,’ said Arabella French, who was the elder, and who looked very meek and soft.  Miss French almost always looked meek and soft.

’I’m afraid it will make it very dull for your mother not seeing her old friends,’ said Mr Gibson.

‘Mamma won’t feel that at all,’ said Dorothy.

’Mrs Stanbury, I suppose, will see her own friends at her own house just the same,’ said Camilla.