"She said something of it—yes."
"Of course I was most anxious not to have to be away all night, because I was to leave Worthing next day to come back here, and so, when the car did not return, I was urgent in begging that we might try to reach home some other way. So we drove in a little open cart, through pouring rain, to try and catch a train—the last train—and just missed it. I got very wet, and I could not dry my things properly, the place was so dirty and comfortless; and I got a little feverish chill. It was not much, but it made me delirious for some hours. I think the fever was partly because I was vexed and anxious. You see, I had written to you to say I was coming, and it was annoying to be stopped like that. Anyway, when I was sensible again mamma said I—I had been saying things ... you understand ... things about you ... when I didn't know what I was talking about."
"I see." His tone was dry.
"I had been very careful," she urged humbly, "not to say anything about what had passed between us. I hope you will forgive me for letting things out, unintentionally?"
"Let me hear all that happened before we talk about that."
She looked frightened, but after a short pause continued indomitably.
"Mamma seemed horrified. She begged me not to come back to you. In order to delay my coming, she told the doctor to keep me in bed, though I was practically well. I did not know what to do. I pretended to give in. Then she went to town—this morning—for a day's shopping or something, and Grover and I ran away without telling anybody. I hope you think I did right. You see, I knew I ought to come; I would not have deceived mamma, but my first duty is to you, and Grover told me that she had done something she really had no right to do. She had intercepted a letter from me to you. Ah, I know, it was partly my fault. I don't know what I may have said when I was wandering. She thought she was acting for the best, no doubt. But I felt unsafe somehow."
"I suppose you mean," said Gaunt slowly, "that your mother thought you had better not come back to me at all?"
"I think so—yes. She said the law would give me relief——"
"She was very probably right. And yet—you came? ... It did not strike you that that was a foolish thing to do? You did not reflect that possession is nine points of the law?"