I came straight to this room, but it was empty; and when I called Martha, she told me Mrs.
Holbrook had gone out at one o'clock in the day, and had not been home since, though she was expected back to dinner at three.

She had been away three hours then, and at a time when I knew she could not expect Mr.
Holbrook, unless she had received a fresh letter from him to say that he was coming by an earlier train than usual.

I asked Martha if there had been any letters for Mrs.Holbrook that day; and she told me yes, there had been one by the morning post.

It was no use asking Martha what kind of letter it looked, and whether it was from Mr.Holbrook, for the poor ignorant creature can neither read nor write, and one handwriting is the same as another to her.

Mrs.Holbrook had told her nothing as to where she was going, only saying that she would be back in an hour or two.
Martha let her out at the gate, and watched her take the way towards the river-bank, and, seeing this, made sure she was going to meet her husband.