Trevelyan was on his way to call upon his lawyer, and said so.

But he did not say why he was going to his lawyer.

He had sent to his wife by Nora that morning to know whether she would make to him the promise he required.

The only answer which Nora could draw from her sister was a counter question, demanding whether he would ask her pardon for the injury he had done her.

Nora had been most eager, most anxious, most conciliatory as a messenger; but no good had come of these messages, and Trevelyan had gone forth to tell all his trouble to his family lawyer.