Trevelyan must now go up-stairs and tell the contents of the letter to his wife.
But he felt that he had created for himself a terrible trouble.

He must tell his wife what was in the letter, but the very telling of it would be a renewing of the soreness of his wound.

And then what was to be done in reference to the threatened visit for the Sunday morning?
Trevelyan knew very well that were his wife denied at that hour, Colonel Osborne would understand the whole matter.

He had doubtless in his anger intended that Colonel Osborne should understand the whole matter; but he was calmer now than he had been then, and almost wished that the command given by him had not been so definite and imperious.

He remained with his arm on the mantel-piece, thinking of it, for some ten minutes, and then went up into the drawing-room.