nto this place of remedy, they seemed
to enter into a sudden league. A look passed between them. It was not
friendly, it had no appeal; but it sufficed. There seemed to be
expressed in it the knowledge bred by immemorial experience and
immemorial time: This law before which we stand was not made by us! As
dogs, when they hear the crack of a far whip, will shrink, and in their
whole bearing show wary quietude, so Hughs and Mrs. Hughs, confronted by
the questionings of Law, made only such answers as could be dragged from
them. In a voice hardly above a whisper Mrs. Hughs told her tale. They
had fallen out. What about? She did not know. Had he attacked her? He
had had it in his hand. What then? She had slipped, and hurt her wrist
against the point. At this statement Hughs turned his eyes on her, and
seemed to say: "You drove me to it; I've got to suffer, for all your
trying to get me out of what I've done. I gave you one, and I don't want
your help. But I'm glad you stick to me against this Law!" Then,
lowering his eyes, he stood motionless during her breathless little
outburst. He was her husband; she had borne him five; he had been
wounded in the war. She had never wanted him brought here.

No mention of the little model....

The old butler dwelt on this reticence of Mrs. Hughs, when, two hours
afterwards, in pursuance of his instinctive reliance on the gentry, he
called on Hilary.

The latter, surrounded by books and papers--for, since his dismissal of
the girl, he had worked with great activity--was partaking of lunch,
served to him in his study on a tray.

"There's an old gentleman to see you, sir; he says you know him; his name
is Creed."

"Show him in," said Hilary.

Appearing suddenly from behind the servant in the doorway, the old butler
came in at a stealthy amble; he looked round, and, seeing a chair, placed
his hat beneath it, then advanced, with nose and spectacles upturned, to
Hilary. Catching sight of the tray, he stopped, checked in an evident
desire to communicate his soul.

"Oh dear," he said, "I'm intrudin' on your luncheon. I can wait; I'll go
and sit in the passage."

Hilary, however, shook his hand, faded now to skin and bone, and motioned
him to a chair.

He sat down on the edge of it, and again said:

"I'm intrudin' on yer."

"Not at all. Is there anything I can do?"

Creed took off his spectacles, wiped them to help himself to see more
clearly what he had to say,