But of course I may be wrong about their identity.' Later in the afternoon Jasper's conjecture was rendered a certainty.
Maud had walked to Wattleborough, where she would meet Dora on the latter's return from her teaching, and Mrs Milvain sat alone, in a mood of depression; there was a ring at the door-bell, and the servant admitted Miss Harrow.
This lady acted as housekeeper to Mr John Yule, a wealthy resident in this neighbourhood; she was the sister of his deceased wife--a thin, soft-speaking, kindly woman of forty-five.

The greater part of her life she had spent as a governess; her position now was more agreeable, and the removal of her anxiety about the future had developed qualities of cheerfulness which formerly no one would have suspected her to possess.
The acquaintance between Mrs Milvain and her was only of twelve months' standing; prior to that, Mr Yule had inhabited a house at the end of Wattleborough remote from Finden.
'Our London visitors came yesterday,' she began by saying.
Mrs Milvain mentioned her son's encounter an hour or two ago.
'No doubt it was they,' said the visitor.

'Mrs Yule hasn't come; I hardly expected she would, you know.

So very unfortunate when there are difficulties of that kind, isn't it ?' She smiled confidentially.
'The poor girl must feel it,' said Mrs Milvain.
'I'm afraid she does.

Of course it narrows the circle of her friends at home.