Over and over again her friends had said to her that a lady such as she was--still young, of a good family, well educated, who had travelled, and moved in excellent society--should not continue to be the landlady of a country inn, but the advice of her friends had had no effect upon her.
It was not known whether it was necessary for her to continue the inn-keeping business, but the general belief was that it was not necessary.

It was supposed that she had had money when she married Godfrey Chester, and he was not a poor man.
Then came a strange revelation, which Mr.Larramie dwelt upon with considerable earnestness.

There was an idea, he said, that Mrs.
Chester kept up the Holly Sprig because she thought it would be her husband's wish that she should do so.

He had probably said something about its being a provision for her in case of his death.

At any rate, she seemed desirous to maintain the establishment exactly as he had ordered it in his life, making no change whatever, very much as if she had expected him to come back, and wished him to find everything as he had left it.
"Of course she doesn't expect him to come back," said Mr.Larramie, "because it must now be four years since the time of his supposed murder--" "Supposed!" I cried, with much more excited interest than I would have shown if I had taken proper thought before speaking.
"Well," said Mr.Larramie, "that is a fine point.