'Stupefied ... how?'
'I ... I will tell you afterwards.'
The quick-witted matron had already discovered that some of her furniture was slightly displaced, so she did not press her question.
At this moment Captain Huston rose to his feet, and took up a position on the hearthrug.
'I do not know,' he said, with concentrated calmness, 'whether the law has anything to say against people who harbour runaway wives; but, at all events, society will have an opinion on the subject.'
He ignored the fact that he had in no way greeted Mrs. Wylie, addressing his remarks to both ladies impartially. By both alike his attack was received in silence.
'I will find her,' he continued. 'You need have no false hopes on that score. All the Theodore Trists in the world (which is saying much—for scoundrels are common enough) will not be able to hide her for long!'
Mrs. Wylie still held Brenda's hand within her own. At the mention of Trist's name there was an involuntary contraction of the white fingers, and the widow suddenly determined to act.
'Captain Huston,' she said gravely, 'when you are calmer, if you wish to talk of this matter again, Brenda and I will be at your service. At present I am convinced that it is better for your wife to keep away from you—though I shall be the first to welcome a reconciliation.'
He shrugged his shoulders and walked slowly to the door. It was Brenda who rang the bell. Captain Huston passed out of the room without another word.