Were you, or were you not, the Mrs.Minchin who was tried last winter for her husband's murder ?" Rachel looked steadily into the hard brown eyes, until a certain hardness came into her own.
"I don't quite know what right you think you have to ask me such a question, Mrs.Venables.Is it the usual thing to question people who have made a second marriage--supposing I am one--about their first?
I fancied myself that it was considered bad form; but then I am still very ignorant of the manners and customs in this part of the world.

Since you ask it, however, you shall have your answer." And Rachel's voice rang out through the room, as she rose majestically from the chair which she had drawn opposite that of the visitor.

"Yes, Mrs.Venables, I am that unhappy woman.

And what then ?" "No wonder you were silent about yourself," said Mrs.Venables, in a vindictive murmur.

"No wonder we never even heard--" "And what then ?" repeated Rachel, with a quiet and compelling scorn.
"Does it put one outside the local pale to keep to oneself any painful incident in one's own career?
Is an accusation down here the same thing as a conviction?
Is there nothing to choose between 'guilty' and 'not guilty' ?" "You must be aware," proceeded Mrs.Venables, without taking any notice of these questions--"indeed, you cannot fail to be perfectly well aware--that a large proportion of the public was dissatisfied with the verdict in your case." "Your husband, for one!" Rachel agreed, with a scornful laugh.