She was inaccessible it appeared for the day.

No matter! The vicar and he settled in the fewest possible words that he should stay till Monday, Mrs.Thornburgh meanwhile looking on, saying what civility demanded, and surprisingly little else.

Then in the evening Mrs.
Thornburgh had asked of him, with a manner of admirable indifference, whether he felt inclined for an evening walk to High Ghyll to inquire after Mary Backhouse.

The request fell in excellently with a lover's restlessness, and Robert assented at once.

The vicar saw him go with puzzled brows and a quick look at his wife, whose head was bent close over her worsted work.
It never occurred to Elsmere--or if it did occur, he pooh-poohed the notion--that he should find Catherine still at her post far from home on this dark stormy evening.