He would not apologise, but would tell her again that it was necessary, both for his happiness and for hers, that all intimacy with Colonel Osborne should be discontinued.
He was brought to this strongly marital resolution by the length of the man's present visit; by that and by the fact that, during the latter portion of it, his wife was alone with Colonel Osborne.

Nora had been there when the man came, but Mrs.Fairfax had called, not getting out of her carriage, and Nora had been constrained to go down to her.

She had hesitated a moment, and Colonel Osborne had observed and partly understood the hesitation.

When he saw it, had he been perfectly well-minded in the matter, he would have gone too.

But he probably told himself that Nora Rowley was a fool, and that in such matters it was quite enough for a man to know that he did not intend any harm.
"You had better go down, Nora," said Mrs.Trevelyan; "Mrs.Fairfax will be ever so angry if you keep her waiting." Then Nora had gone and the two were alone together.