It's just bad luck." Mrs.Boyce smiled a little.
"What there is to make you suppose that she would have inclined to him, I don't exactly see.

She has been taken up with Mr.Raeburn, really, from the first week of her arrival here." "Well, I dare say--there was no one else," said her husband, testily.
"That's natural enough.

It's just what I say.

All I know is, Wharton shall be free to use this house just as he pleases during his canvassing, whatever the Raeburns may say." He bent forward and poked the somewhat sluggish fire with a violence which hindered rather than helped it.

Mrs.Boyce's smile had quite vanished.