It might very possibly be the case that he would be refused admittance to the Clock House,--that all the ladies there would combine to keep him out.

But,--so Trevelyan urged,--the truth on this point was desired.

It was essentially necessary to his happiness that he should know what was being done.
"Your mother and sister," said he, "cannot be afraid of your coming suddenly among them." Stanbury, so urged, had found it necessary to yield, but yet he had felt that he himself was almost acting like a detective policeman, in purposely falling down upon them without a word of announcement.

Had chance circumstances made it necessary that he should go in such a manner he would have thought nothing of it.

It would simply have been a pleasant joke to him.
As he went down by the train on the following day, he almost felt ashamed of the part which he had been called upon to perform..