it will be our business to disentangle. Temptation, however, at this moment had not come to him, and speculation did not keep him awake, when he turned into bed, and buried his rosy face in the pillow, the picture of healthy oblivion and placid strength.
There was no sign of life from Farley Manor all next day, but early in the succeeding one a telegram arrived from William Shaw, followed a few hours later by the appearance of the harassed gentleman himself. His wife had done her uttermost to prevent his going to London; but there were limits even to her influence and powers of persuasion.
He had found her alone, and in tears, when he had returned from Birmingham the previous evening. Her task of explanation had been difficult—could not be wholly satisfactory. Elizabeth was said to be "violent and self-willed." She had quarrelled first with "poor Colonel Wybrowe" (who, of course, had departed before William Shaw's return), afterwards with her aunt, and had left her guardian's house surreptitiously with her maid in the early morning.
"It is quite useless—worse than useless—to follow her," Mrs. Shaw added. "It will only make her more obstinate. Of course she is safe—she is much too clever to get into trouble—and Mr. Twisden will let you know where she is. If she will live apart, you can't force her to return here; and I must confess, after her conduct, I should not like her to return. I do not think you should ask me to receive her."
All which was specious, yet failed to carry conviction to the thick but honest head of William Shaw that it
