And Rachel, forced now to defend, instead of attacking, blurted out—
"Oh! By the way, I was forgetting; Mr. Fores will not be in for tea."
Mrs. Tams, forgetting she was a parlour-maid, vociferated in amazement and protest—
"Not be in for tea, ma'am? And him as he is!" All her lately gathering suspicions were strengthened and multiplied.
Rachel had to continue as she had begun: "He's been called away on very urgent business. He simply had to go."
Mrs. Tams, intermitting her duties, stood still and gazed at Rachel.
"Was it far, ma'am, as he had for to go?"
A simple question, and yet how difficult to answer plausibly!
"Yes—rather."
"I suppose he'll be back to-night, ma'am?"