How could this man, who spoke with such impressive frankness, with such persuasiveness, be the abandoned creature that she had of late believed him?
With Adela's secret warm in her heart she could not but feel an interest in Hubert, and the interest was becoming something like zeal on his behalf.

During the past two hours her mind had been occupied with him exclusively; his words when he left her at the stile had sounded so good and tender that she began to question whether there was any truth at all in the evil things said about him.

The latest story had just been declared baseless by no less an authority than the vicar, who surely was not a man to maintain friendship with a worthless profligate.

What did it all mean?
She had heard only half an hour ago of Adela's positive acceptance of Mutimer, and was wretched about it; secure in her own love-match, it was the mystery of mysteries that Adela should consent to marry a man she could scarcely endure.

And here a chance of rescue seemed to be offering; was it not her plain duty to give what help she might?
'You have probably not seen her since I gave you the book ?' Hubert said, perceiving that Letty was quite at a loss for words.
'No, I haven't seen her at all to-day,' was the reply.