hopes. He had said nothing of
this to Peacocke on discussing the story. He had not even hinted it to
his wife, from whom it might probably make its way to Mrs. Peacocke. He
had suggested it to Mr. Puddicombe,--asking whether there might not be a
way out of all their difficulties. Mr. Puddicombe had declared that there
could be no such way as far as the school was concerned. Let them marry,
and repent their sins, and go away from the spot they had contaminated,
and earn their bread in some place in which there need be no longer
additional sin in concealing the story of their past life. That seemed to
have been Mr. Puddicombe's final judgment. But it was altogether opposed
to Dr. Wortle's feelings.

When Mr. Puddicombe came down from the church to the rectory, Lord
Carstairs was walking home after the afternoon service with Miss Wortle.
It was his custom to go to church with the family, whereas the school went
there under the charge of one of the ushers and sat apart in a portion of
the church appropriated to themselves. Mrs. Wortle, when she found that
the Doctor was not going to the afternoon service, declined to go herself.
She was thoroughly disturbed by all these bad tidings, and was, indeed,
very little able to say her prayers in a fit state of mind. She could
hardly keep herself still for a moment, and was as one who thinks that the
crack of doom is coming;--so terrible to her was her vicinity and
connection with this man, and with the woman who was not his wife. Then,
again, she became flurried when she found that Lord Carstairs and Mary
would have to walk alone together; and she made little abortive attempts
to keep first the one and then the other from going to church. Mary
probably saw no reason for staying away, while Lord Carstairs possibly
found an additional reason for going. Poor Mrs. Wortle had for some weeks
past wished that the charming young nobleman had been at home with his
father and mother, or anywhere but in her house. It had been arranged,
however, that he should go in July and not return after the summer
holidays. Under these circumstances, having full confidence in her girl,
she had refrained from again expressing her fears to the Doctor. But
there were fears. It was evident to her, though the Doctor seemed to see
nothing of it, that the young lord was falling in love. It might be that
his youth and natural bashfulness would come to her aid, and that nothing
should be said befo