It was too cruel that she should be bereft of speech at this supreme moment.
Lady Blore turned putty pale and magenta colour alternately.

A great relief softened her hard face.

There were actually tears in her eyes.
Then she said majestically, but with a tremor in her metallic voice: "I am not surprised." "It is my doing," shrieked Aunt Aggie, in the strangled squeak in which we always explain that it is "only a crumb" gone wrong.

And she relapsed into a fresh spasm.
Lady Blore sternly bade her be silent.

Colonel Bellairs was slightly annoyed.
"It is no use, Mary, your saying you are not surprised, for you are," he said judicially, "and really," relapsing into complacency, "so am I in a way.