THEletterstoLadyLundieandtoMr。CrumhavingbeendispatchedonMonday，thereturnofthepostmightbelookedforonWednesdayafternoonatHamFarm。
SirPatrickandArnoldheldmorethanoneprivateconsultation，duringtheinterval，onthedelicateanddifficultsubjectofadmittingBlanchetoaknowledgeofwhathadhappened。Thewiseelderadvisedandtheinexperiencedjuniorlistened。“Thinkofit，“saidSirPatrick；“anddoit。“AndArnoldthoughtofit——andleftitundone。
Letthosewhofeelinclinedtoblamehimrememberthathehadonlybeenmarriedafortnight。Itishard，surely，afterbuttwoweeks’possessionofyourwife，toappearbeforeherinthecharacterofanoffenderontrial——andtofindthatanangelofretributionhasbeenthrownintothebargainbytheliberaldestinywhichbestowedonyouthewomanwhomyouadore!
TheywereallthreeathomeontheWednesdayafternoon，lookingoutforthepostman。
ThecorrespondencedeliveredincludedexactlyasSirPatrickhadforeseenaletterfromLadyLundie。Furtherinvestigation，onthefarmoreinterestingsubjectoftheexpectednewsfromGlasgow，revealed——nothing。ThelawyerhadnotansweredSirPatrick’sinquirybyreturnofpost。