They were walking in the grounds after breakfast, but she looked round before speaking at all.
"They would glance at it," said Steel, with a shrug; "an occasional schoolboy might read it through; but even if you were guilty, and were here on view, you would command much less attention than the local malefactor in an infinitely smaller way.

I am sorry I put it quite like that," added Steel, as Rachel winced, "but I feel convinced about it, and only wish I could convince you." And he did so, more or less; but the fear of recognition had increased in Rachel, instead of abating, as time went on.

It had increased especially since the rapid ripening of her acquaintance with Morna Woodgate into the intimacy which already subsisted between the two young wives.

Rachel had told her husband that she would not have Morna know for anything; and he had appeared in his own dark way to sympathize with a solicitude which was more actual than necessary; but that was perhaps because he approved of Mrs.Woodgate on his own account.

And so rare was that approval, as a positive and known quantity, yet so marked in this case, that he usually contrived to share Morna's society with his wife.
"You shall not monopolize Mrs.Woodgate," he would say with all urbanity as he joined them when least expected.