I know, too, that he was particularly anxious throughout the time of her illness, and that of her mother.' The listener was paralysed.
'Why have you kept this from me ?' he asked, indignation blending with his misery.
'Because it was no better than gossip and speculation.

I had no right to report such things--at all events, so it seemed to me.

Now I am going to add something which may be the wildest error, but which cannot trouble you much if you imagine that the story is true.

Yesterday, just before I came home to find you here, I met Mr.Dagworthy by chance in a draper's shop, and he told me that he was going away to-day, leaving England.' 'To-day ?' 'Yes.

And I saw that he had been buying a box of ladies' gloves.' 'What do you mean ?' Wilfrid stammered out.
'I know that he has no female relatives--except his wife's, who live in another part of England, and are on bad terms with him.' 'His _wife_--you said ?' 'His late wife; he is a widower.