He did not hurry on his way back to Wanley, for just at present he was much in need of calm reflection.
On his arrival at the Vicarage about eleven o'clock the servant informed him of Miss Waltham's having called.

Mr.Wyvern heard this with pleasure.

He thought at first of writing a note to Adela, begging her to come to the Vicarage again, but by the morning he had decided to be himself the visitor.
He gathered at once from Mrs.Waltham's face that events of some agitating kind were in progress.

She did not keep him long in uncertainty.

Upon his asking if he might speak a few words with Adela, Mrs.Waltham examined him curiously.
'I am afraid,' she said, 'that I must ask you to excuse her this morning, Mr.Wyvern.She is not quite prepared to see anyone at present.
In fact,' she lowered her voice and smiled very graciously, 'she has just had an--an agitating interview with Mr.Mutimer--she has consented to be his wife.' 'In that case I cannot of course trouble her,' the vicar replied, with gravity which to Mrs.Waltham appeared excessive, rather adapted to news of a death than of a betrothal.