"Is he a dear friend too? Well, I suppose he's disengaged now. But they tell me he's got nothing, eh?"
"I really don't know."
"It's very hard to know; very. I don't much admire such jilts myself, but—"
"Miss Waddington did not jilt him, madam."
"Then he jilted her. That's just what I want to come at. I'm very much obliged to you, my dear. I see you can tell me all about it. It was about money, wasn't it?"
"No," shouted Adela, with an energy that quite surprised herself. "Money had nothing to do with it."
"I did not say you had anything to do with it. But don't take up that habit of holloing from Miss Todd. I suppose the truth was that he found out what he wasn't meant to find out. Men shouldn't be too inquisitive; should they, Miss Todd? You are quite right, Miss Gaunt, don't have anything to do with it; it's a bad affair."
"I think you are very much mistaken, madam," said Adela, again shouting. But it was all thrown away. "I can't hear a word, when you hollo in that way, not a word," said Mrs. Leake. And then Adela, with an imploring look at Miss Todd, relinquished her seat.
Miss Todd rose with the usual little speech about leave-taking. She had, as we have seen, intended to have gone in for a second innings herself, but all hope of winning the game against Mrs. Leake was over; even her courage was nearly upset; so making a little whisper to Adela, she held out her hand to the old lady, and prepared to depart.
"Dear me, you are in a great hurry to go," said Mrs. Leake.