CHAPTER XIX
PITCHED BATTLE
Mrs. Trubb happened on Ernie's mother next day in Church Street. The surgeon's wife, whenever she met Mrs. Edward Caspar, acted always deliberately on the assumption, which she knew to be unfounded, that relations between Ruth and her mother-in-law were normal.
"It's a nuisance this about Ernie," she now said. "Such a worry for Ruth."
The hard woman with the snow-white hair and fierce black eye-brows made a little sardonic moue.
"She's all right," she answered. "You needn't worry for her. There's a chap payin her rent."
Mrs. Trupp changed colour.
"I don't believe it," she said sharply.
"You mayn't believe it," retorted the other sourly. "It's true all the same. Alf's her landlord. He told me."
Mrs. Trupp, greatly perturbed, reported the matter to her husband. He tackled Alf, who at the moment was driving for his old employer again in the absence of the regular chauffeur.