It was a relief to Ellinor, who had not attained her end, but who had gone far towards betraying something of her own individual interest in the question she had asked.

Ralph had been more struck even by her manner than her words.

He was sure that something lurked behind, and had an idea of his own that it was connected with Dunster's disappearance.

But he was glad that Mr.Ness's joining them gave him leisure to consider a little.
The end of his reflections was, that the next day, Monday, he went into the town, and artfully learnt all he could hear about Mr Dunster's character and mode of going on; and with still more skill he extracted the popular opinion as to the embarrassed nature of Mr.Wilkins's affairs--embarrassment which was generally attributed to Dunster's disappearance with a good large sum belonging to the firm in his possession.

But Mr.Corbet thought otherwise; he had accustomed himself to seek out the baser motives for men's conduct, and to call the result of these researches wisdom.