had been a tone of affection in his voice that she had almost felt
to be too warm. But she gave the promise; and when he pressed her
hand at parting, she pressed his again, in token of gratitude for
the kindness to be done to her father and mother.

Immediately afterwards Colonel Osborne went away, and Mrs Trevelyan
was left alone in her drawing-room. She knew that her husband was
still downstairs, and listened for a moment to hear whether he would
now come up to her. And he, too, had heard the Colonel's step as
he went, and for a few moments had doubted whether or no he would
at once go to his wife. Though he believed himself to be a man
very firm of purpose, his mind had oscillated backwards and forwards
within the last quarter of an hour between those two purposes of
being round with his wife, and of begging her pardon for the words
which he had already spoken. He believed that he would best do his
duty by that plan of being round with her; but then it would be
so much pleasanter at any rate, so much easier, to beg her pardon.
But of one thing he was quite certain, he must by some means exclude
Colonel Osborne from his house. He could not live and continue to
endure the feelings which he had suffered while sitting downstairs
at his desk, with the knowledge that Colonel Osborne was closeted
with his wife upstairs. It might be that there was nothing in it.
That his wife was innocent he was quite sure. But nevertheless, he
was himself so much affected by some feeling which pervaded him in
reference to this man, that all his energy was destroyed., and his
powers of mind and body were paralysed. He could not, and would not,
stand it. Rather than that, he would follow Mr Poole, and take his
wife to Naples. So resolving, he put his hat on his head and walked
out of the house. He would have the advantage of the afternoon's
consideration before he took either the one step or the other.