CHAPTER XVII.
A GENTLEMAN COMES TO NUNCOMBE PUTNEY.
It soon became known to them all as they remained clustered in the hall that Mr.Glascock was in the house.

Mrs.Stanbury came out to them and informed them that he had been at Nuncombe Putney for the last five hours, and that he had asked for Mrs.Trevelyan when he called.

It became evident as the affairs of the evening went on, that Mrs.Stanbury had for a few minutes been thrown into a terrible state of amazement, thinking that "the Colonel" had appeared.

The strange gentleman, however, having obtained admittance, explained who he was, saying that he was very desirous of seeing Mrs.Trevelyan,--and Miss Rowley.

It may be presumed that a glimmer of light did make its way into Mrs.Stanbury's mind on the subject; but up to the moment at which the three travellers arrived, she had been in doubt on the subject.