Colonel
Osborne had not been at Nuncombe when the accusation had been made, and
the accusation had been unjust and false. But his coming had been
spoken of by Priscilla in her own letters as an occurrence which was
quite out of the question. Her anger against her aunt had been for
saying that the man had come, not for objecting to such a visit. And
now the man was coming, and Aunt Stanbury would know all about it. How
great, how terrible, how crushing would be Aunt Stanbury's triumph!
'I must write and tell her,' said Priscilla.
'I am sure I shall not object,' said Mrs Trevelyan. 'And Hugh must be
told,' said Mrs Stanbury.
'You may tell all the world, if you like,' said Mrs Trevelyan.
In this way it was settled among them that Colonel Osborne was to be
received. On the next morning, Friday morning, Colonel Osborne,
doubtless having heard something of Mrs Crocket from his friend at
Cockchaffington, was up early, and had himself driven over to Nuncombe
Putney before breakfast. The ever-watchful Bozzle was, of course, at
his heels or rather, not at his heels on the first two miles of the
journey; for Bozzle, with painful zeal, had made himself aware of all
the facts, and had started on the Nuncombe Putney road half an hour
before the Colonel's fly was in motion.
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