Mistress Inchbare's eyes remained fixed on her in merciless inquiry.

To have given utterance to the contradiction which trembled on her lips would have been to involve Arnold (after all that he had sacrificed for her) in the scandal which would inevitably follow--a scandal which would be talked of in the neighborhood, and which might find its way to Blanche's ears.

White and cold, her eyes never moving from the table, she accepted the landlady's implied correction, and faintly repeated the words: "My husband." Mistress Inchbare drew a breath of virtuous relief, and waited for what Anne had to say next.

Arnold came considerately to the rescue, and got her out of the room.
"Never mind," he said to Anne; "I know what it is, and I'll see about it.

She's always like this, ma'am, when a storm's coming," he went on, turning to the landlady.