Mrs.Chalk, noticing his inattention at last, pulled up sharply.
"You're not listening!" she cried.
"Yes, I am; go on, my dear," said Mr.Chalk.
"What did I say she left her last place for, then ?" demanded the lady.
Mr.Chalk started.

He had been conscious of his wife's voice, and that was all.

"You said you were not surprised at her leaving," he replied, slowly; "the only wonder to you was that a decent girl should have stayed there so long." Mrs.Chalk started and bit her lip.

"Yes," she said, slowly.

"Ye-es.
Go on; anything else ?" "You said the house wanted cleaning from top to bottom," said the painstaking Mr.Chalk.
"Go on," said his wife, in a smothered voice.