course
accompanying her; and thus the affairs of that day were over.

Her intention was to go down to Hamworth at once, and make her way
up to Orley Farm, at which place she believed that Lady Mason was
living. Up to this time she had heard no word of the coming trial
beyond what Mr. Furnival had told her as to his client's "law
business." And whatever he had so told her, she had scrupulously
disbelieved. In her mind all that went for nothing. Law business! she
was not so blind, so soft, so green, as to be hoodwinked by such
stuff as that. Beautiful widows don't have personal interviews with
barristers in their chambers over and over again, let them have what
law business they may. At any rate Mrs. Furnival took upon herself to
say that they ought not to have such interviews. She would go down to
Orley Farm and she would have an interview with Lady Mason. Perhaps
the thing might be stopped in that way.

On the following morning she received a note from her husband the
consideration of which delayed her proceedings for that day.

"DEAR KITTY," the note ran.

I think you are very foolish. If regard for me had not
kept you at home, some consideration with reference to
Sophia should have done so. What you say about that poor
lady at Orley Farm is too absurd for me to answer. If you
would have spoken to me about her, I would have told you
that which would have set your mind at rest, at any rate
as regards her. I cannot do this in a letter, nor could I
do it in the presence of your friend, Miss Biggs.

I hope you will come back at once; but I shall not add
to the absurdity of your leaving your own house by any
attempt to bring you back again by force. As you must want
money I enclose a check for fifty pounds. I hope you will
be back before you want more; but if not I will send it as
soon as you ask for it.

Yours affectionately as always,

T. FURNIVAL.

There was about this letter an absence of sentiment, and an absence
of threat, and an absence of fuss, which almost overset her. Could
it be possible that she was wrong about Lady Mason? Should she go to
him and hear his own account before she absolutely declared war by
breaking into the enemy's camp at Orley Farm? Then, moreover, she was
touched and almost overcome about the money. She wished he had not
sent it to her. That money difficulty had occurred to her, and been
much discussed in her own thoughts. Of cou