In fact the only thing really tangible was the girl's distress in telling it, and that Mrs.Willoughby attributed to some dispute between her and Sidney that morning.

She could not know that Clarice's outburst had been preceded by that chance meeting in the Park with Stephen Drake, for Clarice had made no allusion to it of any kind.

She felt, besides, that advice in any case would be of little use.

The couple had to work out their own salvation, and time and experience alone could help them.
Events seemed to justify Mrs.Willoughby's reticence, for the winter blossomed into spring, the spring flowered into summer, and the Mallinson household remained to the external view unshaken.
Drake's visits to Bentbridge increased in frequency as the prospect of the general election became more real.

A snap vote in the House of Commons on a minor question of administrative expenditure decided the matter suddenly towards the end of June.