'How very, very imprudent we have been! How wrong of father not to have made inquiries! To think that such a man should have sat at our table!'
'Sit down, mother; don't be so distressed,' said Sidwell, calmly. 'It will all very soon be settled.'
'Of course not a word must be said to anyone. How very fortunate that we shall be in London till the summer! Of course he must leave Exeter.'
'I have no doubt he will. Let us talk as little of it as possible, mother. We shall go back to-morrow'——
'This afternoon! We will go back with Buckland. That is decided. I couldn't sleep here another night.'
'We must remain till to-morrow,' Sidwell replied, with quiet determination.
'Why? What reason can there be?'
Mrs. Warricombe's voice was suspended by a horrible surmise.
'Of course we shall go to-day, Sidwell,' she continued, in nervous haste. 'To think of that man having the impudence to call and sit talking with you! If I could have dreamt'——
'Mother,' said Sidwell, gravely, 'I am obliged to see Mr. Peak, either this evening or to-morrow morning.'