Out of her sphere - University Library

214 OUT OF HER SPHERE,
lie is able, in one sense, to answer them, it
will be doubtful whether I shall choose to
incur the responsibility of allowing him to
do so. There is no knowing what the
consequences might be, if told not merely
of his wife's death, but of her murder."
" She was not murdered, and she is not
dead. I imagine that, like a great many
other people, Mr. and Mrs. Thornton did not
live too happily together. They possibly
had a quarrel, and the lady has gone home
to her relations. I do n't for a moment
beheve anything worse of her, whatever
the scandal-mongers in this town, or else-
where, may do ; but you're clever folks about
here, fixing a crime on Mr. Audley Dale,
which it would have been simply impossible
for him to commit. I want to see what
light Mr. Thornton can throw on his wife's
movements. You must let mo see him as
soon as possible. There is no time to be
lost. The assizes are on in a fortnight.