Persistent inquiry seemed to have settled the fact that he was not married already.

To be sure, there were awesome rumours that Socialists repudiated laws divine and human in matrimonial affairs, but the more sanguine were inclined to regard this as calumny, their charity finding a support in their personal ambitions.

The interest formerly attaching to the Eldons had altogether vanished.

Mrs.Eldon and her son were now mere obstacles to be got rid of as quickly as possible.
It was the general opinion that Hubert Eldon's illness was purposely protracted, to suit his mother's convenience.

Until Mutimer's arrival there had been much talk about Hubert; whether owing to Dr.Mann's indiscretion or through the servants at the Manor, it had become known that the young man was suffering from a bullet-wound, and the story circulated by Mrs.Mewling led gossips to suppose that he had been murderously assailed in that land of notorious profligacy known to Wanley as 'abroad.' That, however, was now become an old story.