She says it all began with your making that mistake about your name in signing the church register.

You remember?
Was there ever such stuff?
Ah, she's a foolish woman, that wife of mine! But she means well--a good soul at bottom.

She would have traveled all the way here along with me if I would have let her.

I said, 'No; you stop at home, and look after the house and the parish, and I'll bring the child back.' You shall have your old bedroom, Valeria, with the white curtains, you know, looped up with blue! We will return to the Vicarage (if you can get up in time) by the nine-forty train to-morrow morning." Return to the Vicarage! How could I do that?
How could I hope to gain what was now the one object of my existence if I buried myself in a remote north-country village?
It was simply impossible for me to accompany Doctor Starkweather on his return to his own house.
"I thank you, uncle, with all my heart," I said.

"But I am afraid I can't leave London for the present." "You can't leave London for the present ?" he repeated.