If she chose to repudiate her marriage with him, it was
her duty to afford him the chance of freeing himself from the legal
bond. What moralist could defend her behaviour?

He worked himself into a mood of righteous indignation, of self-pity.
No; the very least Lilian should have done, in uniting herself to
another man, moreover a wealthy man, was to make some provision for her
forsaken husband. That little income of hers should have been
transferred to him. Her action was unexpected; he had thought her too
timid, too religious, too soft-hearted, for anything of this kind.
Since the disastrous wedding-day, she had, it was true, declined to
hold communication with him; but he always looked forward to a meeting
when he regained his freedom, and had faith in his personal influence.
It was not solely for the sake of her money that he wooed and won her;
other connections notwithstanding, he felt something like genuine
tenderness for Lilian, and even now this sentiment was not extinct.

The morning only confirmed his reluctance to follow Mr. Marks's
directions. Practically, he lost nothing by taking his own course but a
five-pound note. Let the electioneering agent attack Quarrier by some
other means. For a few hours, at all events, the secret would remain
unpublished, and in that interval the way might be opened for an honest
and promising career.

He breakfasted substantially, and left by the train appointed. Arrived
at Polterham, after a walk up and down the nearest streets and an
inspection of the party placards, he asked his way to the shop of Mr.
Ridge, bookseller. At once he was directed thither.

"So far so good," he said to himself. "It seems pretty certain that
Marks has not misled me. Shall I go into this shop, and play the trick
that was recommended? I think it is hardly worth while. Better to
inquire for Quarrier's house, and have a look at it."

He did so, and--it may be mentioned--on his way passed the doors of the
church in which at that moment Glazzard was being married. At about
half-past ten he was in sight of the high wall surrounding Quarrier's
garden; he approached the gate, and cautiously took a view of what was
within, then walked to a little distance.

His wife had not done badly for a little country girl. Whilst _he_
prowled about the streets with his burden of disgrace, his blank
future, Lilian sat at her ease in a mansion--doubtless had her
carriages, perhaps her liveried servants--associated