“I showed it to you in order to impress upon you that people talk, and that you owe it to me to keep their tongues quiet.”
“What do you want me to do?”
“Something perfectly simple,” Philip said. “I want you to give up visiting Dorward in his cottage and, as you have no religious inclinations, I should like you to avoid his church.”
“And that’s why you showed me this anonymous letter?”
He nodded.
“In fact you’re going to give it your serious attention?” she continued.
“Not at all,” he contradicted. “For a long time I’ve objected to your friendship with Dorward, but, knowing you were too headstrong to listen to my advice, I said nothing. This letter makes it impossible to keep silent any longer about my wishes.”
“But you don’t really believe that Dorward and I are having an affair?” she gasped.
Philip made an impatient gesture.
“What a foolish question! Do you suppose that if I had for one moment thought such a thing I shouldn’t have spoken before? No, no, my dear, it’s all very unpleasant, but you must see that as soon as I am made aware, however crude the method of bringing it to my knowledge, that people are talking about you and my vicar, I have no alternative but to forbid you to do anything that will make these tongues go on wagging.”