She sat near her and looked her straight in the face.
"Don't be frightened," she said.

"I tell you there is no need to be frightened.

We are not living in the Middle Ages.

There is a policeman even in Stornham village, and we are within four hours of London, where there are thousands." Lady Anstruthers tried to laugh, but did not succeed very well, and her forehead flushed.
"I don't quite know why I seem so nervous," she said.

"It's very silly of me." She was still timid enough to cling to some rag of pretence, but Betty knew that it would fall away.