Out of her sphere - University Library

HAROLD THORNTONS RETURN HOME. 51
day, and had not yet returned. Mr. Harben
looked puzzled. Clare's manner implied
that something was wrong. Then he asked
when she was expected back.
Clare knew nothing— did not even know
when she went that she was not going to
return that day. Had sat up for her all
night, in fact—only hoped that nothing had
happened—but, perhaps it was not quite
right for her to say so—Mr. and Mrs.
Thornton had not been on the best of teritis
lately. Possibly that might have some-
thing to do with the fact of Mrs. Thornton's
not returning home yesterday. She could
not resist throwing this bit of dirt at her
mistress, and she saw that it stuck where
she had thrown it, by Mr. Harben s altered
face. He had heard—as who had not in
Wearmouth ?—a little of the gossip and
scandal that seemed so to delight in gather^
ing round Mrs. Thornton's name. He knew
how it had been connected with Audley
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