At all events she felt justified in mentioning them to Mrs.Venables, who instantly drove over to ask Rachel to her face if there was any truth in the rumor that she was or had been Mrs.Minchin." "Well ?" "Rachel told her it was perfectly true." "Good!" "And then the fat was in the fire; but what happened exactly it was impossible to gather from Mrs.Venables.I never saw a woman so beside herself with rage.

She came in incoherent, and went out inarticulate! From the things she said of him, I could only guess that Mr.Steel had come upon the scene and insulted her as she deserved to be insulted.

But I would give a good deal to know what did happen." "Would you really ?" Morna started to her feet.

The vicar rose more slowly, after sitting for some moments in mute confusion.

It was Mrs.Steel who stood before them on their lawn, pale as death, and ten years older since the day before, yet with a smile upon her bloodless lips, which appeared indeed to express some faint irresistible amusement.
"Would you really like to know ?" she repeated, standing at a distance from them, her great eyes travelling from one to the other.