"I was just starting to pay my first call on Mrs. Crofton. But I'm so
glad. Perhaps you'll be able to tell me something about her. I hear she
had supper with you the day she arrived!"
As she spoke, she led the way into a little room off the hall. "I've been
trying to make out to what branch of the Croftons she belongs," she went
on reflectively. "There was a man called Cecil Crofton in my second
brother's regiment a matter of forty years ago."
"She looks quite young," said Betty doubtfully.
"Old enough to know better than to get herself talked about the first
hour she arrived," observed Miss Pendarth grimly.
"I don't think she can have done that--"
"Not only did she bring a man with her, a Captain Tremaine,--but just
before he left they had some kind of quarrel which was overheard by two
of the tradespeople who were calling to leave their cards."
"How--how horrid," murmured Betty. But what really shocked her was that
Miss Pendarth should listen to that sort of gossip.
"It was horrid and absurd too, for the man had turned the key in the lock
of the sitting-room, and it stuck for a minute or two when one of them
tried to unlock the door in answer to the maid's knock!"
"What an extraordinary thing!"
"I could hardly believe the story, but now that I've seen Mrs.
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