Adela was made wretched by the inevitable falsehood.

She felt herself reddening under his gaze.
He seemed to fall into absent-mindedness, then re-read the document.
Then he took out his watch.
'The people are out of church.

Come and show me where it was.' With a deep sense of relief she went away to put on her bonnet.

To escape for a moment was what she needed, and the self-command of his voice seemed to assure her against her worst fears.

She felt grateful to him for preserving his dignity.