She had said all she wanted to say, and to decline to hear anything about Ralph Haverley's having been seen driving about with a young woman who had been engaged as Dr.Tolbridge's secretary, was much better than speaking of it, and she took her leave with a prim politeness.
Mrs.Drane was left in an uncomfortable state of mind.

It was not pleasant to be reminded that this delightful country house was only a temporary home, for that implied a return to Thorbury, a town she disliked; and although she had, of course, expected to go back there, she had not allowed the matter to dwell in her mind at all, putting it into the future, without consideration, as she liked to do with things that were unpleasant.
Moreover, there was something, she could not tell exactly what, about Miss Panney's words and manner, which put an unsatisfactory aspect upon the obvious methods of Cicely's communications with her employer.
Mrs.Drane's mind had already been slightly disturbed on this subject, but Miss Panney had revived and greatly increased the disturbance..