Matters were in this very unsatisfactory condition when Philip Hume returned to Littlehill, and straightway became the unwilling recipient of Dale's troubled confidences. A fortnight's solitude had been too much for Dale, and he poured out his perplexities, saying, with an apologetic laugh:
"I'm bound to tell someone. I believe, if you hadn't come, I should have made a clean breast of it to the Mayor."
"You might do worse. The Mayor is a man of sagacity. This young woman seems very unreasonable."
"What young woman?"
"Why, Miss Delane."
"Well, Phil, you must allow for the delicacy of her——"
"You called it infernal nonsense yourself just now."
"I wish, Phil, you'd call at the Grange and see her, and tell me what you think about her."
"I can't do any good, but I'll go, if you like."