They had been discussing the chances of Mr.Vanstone's catching the return train and getting back in good time.

That topic had led them, next, to his business errand at Grailsea--an errand of kindness, as usual; undertaken for the benefit of the miller, who had been his old farm-servant, and who was now hard pressed by serious pecuniary difficulties.

From this they had glided insensibly into a subject often repeated among them, and never exhausted by repetition--the praise of Mr.Vanstone himself.

Each one of the three had some experience of her own to relate of his simple, generous nature.
The conversation seemed to be almost painfully interesting to his wife.

She was too near the time of her trial now not to feel nervously sensitive to the one subject which always held the foremost place in her heart.