There could be no difficulty in answering for Anne.
Lady Lundie and her domestic circle had occupied Windygates for a much longer period than three weeks before the date of the lawn-party.

The question, as it affected Arnold, was the only question that required reflection.

After searching his memory for details of the conversation which had taken place between them, when he and Arnold had met at the lawn-party, Geoffrey recalled a certain reference on the part of his friend to a performance at the Edinburgh theatre, which at once decided the question of time.

Arnold had been necessarily detained in Edinburgh, before his arrival at Windygates, by legal business connected with his inheritance; and he, like Anne, had certainly been in Scotland, before they met at Craig Fernie, for a longer period than a period of three weeks He accordingly informed Sir Patrick that the lady and gentleman had been in Scotland for more than twenty-one days--and then added a question on his own behalf: "Don't let me hurry you, Sir--but, shall you soon have done ?" "I shall have done, after two more questions," answered Sir Patrick.
"Am I to understand that the lady claims, on the strength of the circumstances which you have mentioned to me, to be your friend's wife ?" Geoffrey made an affirmative reply.

The readiest means of obtaining Sir Patrick's opinion was, in this case, to answer, Yes.