until the whole thing blew over it would be wiser for
her not to see anything of Mrs. Avory. Considering his own and her
position in the parish, he thought they could not be too careful.

When the second post arrived at the palace, bringing him the unexpected
news that his wife was at that moment nursing Mrs. Avory at their
neighbour's house, Canon Wrottesley felt one of those shocks which in
all their painfulness can only be realized, perhaps, by those who hold
a conspicuous position in a very small society. When the world is
narrowed down to quite a little place its weight is felt more heavily
than when its interests and its knowledge are dispersed over a wider
area.

He believed that poor Henrietta had meant well when she had gone to
Hulworth to look after Mrs. Avory; but her action proved to the canon
what he had always known--that a woman requires guidance, and he meant
to tell his wife kindly how much wiser it would have been if, before
taking any action in this matter, she had wired to him for advice.

The thing was a real trouble to him, and helped to spoil his enjoyable
stay at the palace. He knew himself to be popular there and that his
visit had given real pleasure. He had been asked to improvise upon the
piano every evening, and had even sung once, saying gracefully to the
Bishop's daughter, when she had concluded her very indifferent
accompaniment to the song, 'An accompanist is born, not made!' He had
preached one of his favourite sermons on Sunday, which had not only
swelled the offertory bag to an unusual size, but had obtained for the
canon quite a sheaf of compliments which he looked forward to retailing
to Henrietta at home. He left the pleasant ways of the Bishop's palace
determined to face with a magnanimous mind the difficulties that
awaited him. He did not like Henrietta's being 'mixed up in this
affair' at all, and, as he sat in the first-class carriage of the train
on his homeward journey, a rug about his knees and a footwarmer at his
feet, he decided that the wisest and best thing he could do would be to
shorten his journey by getting out at Hulworth station and going
straight up to Sir Nigel's house. When he had time, and was able to
see how Culversham viewed this affair of Mrs. Avory's, he could then
decide whether his wife should call upon her or not. But for the
present he saw quite plainly that inaction and patience were the best
course.

He gave up his ticket at the railway