Had it not been for the Stanbury correspondence the fact of Colonel Osborne's threatened visit would have been admitted as a thing necessary--as a disagreeable necessity; but how was the visit to be admitted and passed over in the teeth of that correspondence?
Priscilla felt very keenly the peculiar cruelty of her position.

Of course Aunt Stanbury would hear of the visit.
Indeed, any secrecy in the matter was not compatible with Priscilla's ideas of honesty.

Her aunt had apologised humbly for having said that Colonel Osborne had been at Nuncombe.

That apology, doubtless, had been due.

Colonel Osborne had not been at Nuncombe when the accusation had been made, and the accusation had been unjust and false.