No change was discernible for the worse.
It was useless to hope for the doctor's arrival, before another hour at least.

I felt the necessity of getting back at once to the rectory, so as to be able to tell Lucilla (with all needful preparation) the melancholy truth.

Otherwise, the news of what had happened would get abroad in the village, and might come to her ears, in the worst possible way, through one of the servants.

To my infinite relief, Mr.Finch, when I rose to go, excused himself from accompanying me.

He had discovered that it was his duty, as rector, to give the earliest information of the outrage at Browndown to the legal authorities.