But in the middle of the afternoon in walked Mrs.
Folliot, a rare caller, and before she had been closeted with Mary five minutes brought up the subject again.
"I want to speak to you on a very serious matter, my dear Miss Bewery," she said.

"You must allow me to speak plainly on account of--of several things.

My--my superiority in--in age, you know, and all that!" "What's the matter, Mrs.Folliot ?" asked Mary, steeling herself against what she felt sure was coming.

"Is it--very serious?
And--pardon me--is it about what Mr.Folliot mentioned to me this morning?
Because if it is, I'm not going to discuss that with you or with anybody!" "I had no idea that my husband had been here this morning," answered Mrs.Folliot in genuine surprise.

"What did he want to talk about ?" "In that case, what do you want to talk about ?" asked Mary.