She had no witnesses to call upon.

She had discovered that he had planned with composed steadiness that misleading impressions should be given to servants and village people.

When the Brents returned to the vicarage, she had observed, with terror, that for some reason they stiffened, and looked askance when the Ffolliotts were mentioned.
"I am afraid, Lady Anstruthers, that Mr.Ffolliott was a great mistake," Mrs.Brent said once.
Lady Anstruthers had not dared to ask any questions.

She had felt the awkward colour rising in her face and had known that she looked guilty.
But if she had protested against the injustice of the remark, Sir Nigel would have heard of her words before the day had passed, and she shuddered to think of the result.

He had by that time reached the point of referring to Ffolliott with sneering lightness, as "Your lover." "Do you defend your lover to me," he had said on one occasion, when she had entered a timid protest.