He believed that he would best do his duty by that plan of being round with her; but then it would be so much pleasanter--at any rate, so much easier, to beg her pardon.

But of one thing he was quite certain, he must by some means exclude Colonel Osborne from his house.

He could not live and continue to endure the feelings which he had suffered while sitting down-stairs at his desk, with the knowledge that Colonel Osborne was closeted with his wife up-stairs.

It might be that there was nothing in it.

That his wife was innocent he was quite sure.