, as she usually did on those rare occasions when anything
approaching to a dispute arose between them. Having come to the
conclusion that "it" was Mrs. Goddard, the remainder of the secret needed
no discovery. It was plain that John must be in love with the tenant of
the cottage, and it seemed likely that it would devolve upon Mrs. Ambrose
to clear up the matter. She was very fond of John and her first
impression was that Mrs. Goddard, whom she now again suspected of having
foreign blood, had "led him on"--an impression which the vicar had
anticipated when he rashly resolved not to tell his wife John's secret.
She knew very well that the vicar must have told John his mind in regard
to such an attachment, and she easily concluded that he must have done so
on the previous evening when John called him into the study. But she had
just won a victory over her husband, and she consequently felt that he
was weak, probably too weak to save the situation, and it was borne in
upon her that she ought to do something immediately. Unhappily she did
not see quite clearly what was to be done. She might go straight to Mrs.
Goddard and accuse her of having engaged John's affections; but the more
she thought of that, the more diffident she grew in regard to the result
of such an interview. Curiosity had led her to a certain point, but
caution prevented her from going any further. Mrs. Ambrose was very
cautious. The habit of living in a small place, feeling that all her
actions were watched by the villagers and duly commented upon by them,
had made her even more careful than she was by nature. It would be very
unwise to bring about a scene with Mrs. Goddard unless she were very sure
of the result. Mrs. Goddard was hardly a friend. In Mrs. Ambrose's
opinion an acquaintance of two years and a half standing involving almost
daily meetings and the constant exchange of civilities did not constitute
friendship. Nevertheless the vicar's wife would have been ashamed to own
that after such long continued intercourse she was wholly ignorant of
Mrs. Goddard's real character; especially as the latter had requested the
vicar to tell Mrs. Ambrose her story when she first appeared at
Billingsfield. Moreover, as her excitement at the victory she had gained
over her husband began to subside, she found herself reviewing mentally
the events of the last few days. She remembered distinctly that John had
perpetually pursued Mrs. Goddard, and that although the lat