She slunk out of the door and crept weakly up-stairs.
Horace and Mrs.Ayres looked at each other.

There was a look of doubt in the woman's face.

For the first time she was not altogether sure.
Perhaps Lucy had been right, after all, in her surmises.

Why had Horace called?
She finally went straight to the point.
"What did you come for, Mr.Allen ?" said she.
Suddenly Horace thought of the obvious thing to say, the explanation to give.

"Miss Fletcher is thinking of coming later to take Miss Lucy for a drive," said he.
"And you called to tell her ?" said Mrs.Ayres.
Horace looked at her.