The news concerned other people, he said, and he was not at liberty to tell.

He trusted Miss Timpson would excuse him under the circumstances.
Miss Timpson was therefore obliged to excuse him, though it was plain that she did so under protest.

She made several more or less direct attempts to learn the secret and, failing, went out to attend prayer-meeting.

Caleb Hammond went out also, though the club, not prayer-meeting, was his announced destination.

Heman finished his dinner alone.