At any rate, he had chosen to take charge of this particular letter.
What he did not know, however, was that chance had played into his hands in the matter of temporarily upsetting Lord Walderhurst's rather unreliable digestion, and in altering his plans, by a smart, though not dangerous, attack of fever which had ended in his being ordered to a part of the hill country not faithfully reached by letters; as a result of which several communications from his wife went astray and were unduly delayed.

At the time Captain Osborn was discussing him with Hester, he was taking annoyed care of himself with the aid of a doctor, irritated by the untoward disturbance of his arrangements, and giving, it is true, comparatively little thought to his wife, who, being comfortably installed at Palstrey Manor, was doubtless enjoyably absorbed in little Mrs.Osborn.
"What German baths does she intend going to ?" Alec Osborn inquired.
Hester consulted the letter with a manner denoting but languid interest.
"It's rather like her that she doesn't go to the length of explaining," was her reply.

"She has a way of telling you a great many things you don't care to know, and forgetting to mention those you are interested in.

She is very detailed about her health, and her affection and mine.
She evidently expects us to go back to The Kennel Farm, and deplores her inhospitality, with adjectives." She did not look as if she was playing a part; but she was playing one, and doing it well.

Her little way was that of a nasty-tempered, self-centred woman, made spiteful by being called upon to leave a place which suited her.
"You are not really any fonder of her than I am," commented Osborn, after regarding her speculatively a few moments.