He then dressed himself, intending to go to Emily as soon as the
girl had left her; but the girl remained--was, as he believed,
kept in the room purposely by his wife, so that he should have no
moment of private conversation. He went downstairs, therefore, and
found Nora standing by the drawing-room fire.

'So you are dressed first today?' he said. 'I thought your turn
always came last.'

'Emily sent Jenny to me first today because she thought you would
be home, and she didn't go up to dress till the last minute.'

This was intended well by Nora, but it did not have the desired
effect. Trevelyan, who had no command over his own features, frowned,
and showed that he was displeased. He hesitated a moment, thinking
whether he would ask Nora any question as to this report about her
father and mother; but, before he had spoken, his wife was in the
room.

'We are all late, I fear,' said Emily.

'You, at any rate, are the last,' said her husband.

'About half a minute,' said the wife.

Then they got into the hired brougham which was standing at the
door.

Trevelyan, in the sweet days of his early confidence with his wife,
had offered to keep a carriage for her, explaining to her that the