f her meeting
with the convict was minimised.

On the other hand, Ruth was scrupulously uncommunicative of everything
connected with Mrs. Prichard's supposed delusions. So was Dr. Nash, on
the one or two occasions when he looked in at Costrell's Farm,
prophylactically. Where was the use of upsetting Juno Lucina by telling
her that her daughter had taken a lunatic inmate? All the circumstances
considered, he would have much preferred that Mrs. Maisie's mother
should take charge of her. But this young woman liked to have her own
way.

The doctor was almost sorry, after Gwen drove away, that he had not
pointed out what an unpropitious moment it was for an upsetting
revelation, and suggested postponement. It was too late to do anything,
by the time he thought of it. He shrugged his shoulders about it, and
perceived that what was done couldn't be undone. Then he drove as fast
as he could to Sir Cropton Fuller, who asked him to stay to lunch. This
meant a long unemployed delay, but he compromised. He would see another
patient, and return to lunch, after which he would go to Costrell's
Farm. It was only a short drive from the Manor House, but if he had
gone there direct, he knew the mid-day meal at the Farm would cut across
what might prove a long conversation with Granny Marrable. Suppose
circumstances should favour a full communication of the extraordinary
disclosure he had it in his power to make to her, he would not feel any
hesitation about making it. In fact, he hoped that might prove the
natural order of events, although he was quite prepared to act on Lady
Gwendolen's suggestion that he should merely lay the train, not fire it,
if that should prove possible. But, said he to himself, that will be
neither fish nor flesh. Mysterious hints--so ran his reflections--will
only terrify the old body out of her seven senses and gain no end. Get
the job over!--that was the sacramental word. It took him all the period
of his drive to Sir Cropton's, and all the blank bars betwixt
prescription and prescription, to get--as it were--to this phrase in the
music.

But by the time Sir Cropton had given him lunch, it had become the
dominant theme of his reflections. Get the job done--if possible! More
especially because he did not want Juno Lucina's nerves to be upset at a
critical moment, and that was exactly what might happen if the
revelation were delayed too long. If she were told now, and disabled by
the shock, there would at lea