Meanwhile, she strove, after her own fashion, to become the
executor of its decrees.
The news of Lionel Dale's sudden disappearance, and the alarm to which
it gave rise, reached the little town of Frimley in due course; but it
was slow to reach the lonely lady at the inn. Lady Eversleigh had taken
counsel with herself after Mr. Larkspur had left her, and had come to
the determination that she would tell Lionel Dale the whole truth. She
resolved to lay before him a full statement of all the circumstances of
her life, to reveal all she knew, and all she suspected concerning Sir
Reginald Eversleigh, and to tell him of Carrington's presence in her
neighbourhood, as well as the designs which she believed him to
cherish. She told herself that her dead husband's kinsman could
scarcely refuse to believe her statement, when she reminded him that
she had no object to serve in this revelation but the object of truth
and respect for her husband's memory. When he, Lionel Dale, could have
rehabilitated her in public opinion by taking his place beside her, he
had not done so; it was too late now, no advance on his part could undo
that which had been done, and he could not therefore think that in
taking this step she was trying to curry favour with him in order to
further her own interest. After debating the question for some time,
she resolved to write a letter, which Larkspur could carry to the
rectory.
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