'He's gone to Thornsett.'
'Why, Roland isn't there.'
'Thank God! God be praised, if it'll on'y please His good providence to keep 'em fra meetin'!'
'But how came he to go? How did it happen? Tell me all about it?'
It seemed that when her husband had met her at Dartford Station, she, pleased with having met Richard, had told him of the rencontre. That he had closely questioned her, and when at last he had learned every word that had passed between them, he had turned suddenly on her, and told her that this was the first time he had ever even thought of such a thing being possible as that Roland had been the cause of Alice's ruin, and that now he did know he would not lose a day in facing him with the accusation.
'Do you mean to say,' said Richard, 'that it's through me he thinks that Roland took her away?'
'I don't say it was thy fault, lad. I'm more to blame than thee. I should a-kept my clattering tongue quiet, and I should a-known my own man better after a' these years nor to think that if he had a-thowt it was Rowley he wouldna ha' faced him wi' it long sin'.'
'This is devilish pleasant!' said Richard, rising and taking a stride across the little room; but how did he go?'
It appeared he had started off with but a pound, or little more, in his pocket, intending to walk the greater part of the way, and only telling her that she wouldn't hear of him until she saw him back again.