Colonel Osborne answered the letter very quickly, throwing much more of demonstrative affection than he should have done into his "Dear Emily," and his "Dearest Friend." Of course Mrs.Trevelyan had burned this answer, and of course Mr.Trevelyan had been told of the correspondence.

His wife, indeed, had been especially careful that there should be nothing secret about the matter,--that it should be so known in the house that Mr.Trevelyan should be sure to hear of it.

And he had heard of it, and been driven almost mad by it.

He had flown off to Lady Milborough, and had reduced his old friend to despair by declaring that, after all, he began to fear that his wife was--was--was--infatuated by that d---- scoundrel.

Lady Milborough forgave the language, but protested that he was wrong in his suspicion.