"When he does get it out of him," thought Edwin again, "there will be a family row and George will be indicted as the corrupter of innocence."
Maggie would not stay a single moment. Hilda attentively accompanied her to the hall. The former and the present mistress of the house kissed with the conventional signs of affection. But the fact that one had succeeded the other seemed to divide them. Hilda was always lying in wait for criticism from Maggie, ready to resent it; Maggie divined this and said never a word. The silence piqued Hilda as much as outspoken criticism would have annoyed her. She could not bear it.
"How do you like my new stair-carpet?" she demanded defiantly.
"Very nice! Very nice, I'm sure!" Maggie replied without conviction. And added, just as she stepped outside the front-door, "You've made a lot of changes." This was the mild, good-natured girl's sole thrust, and it was as effective as she could have wished.
Everybody had gone except the two Orgreaves and Tertius Ingpen.
"I don't know about you, Johnnie, but I must go," said Janet Orgreave when Hilda came back.
"Hold on, Jan!" Johnnie protested. "You're forgetting those duets you are to try with Ingpen."
"Really?"
"Duets!" cried Hilda, instantly uplifted and enthusiastic. "Oh, do let's have some music!"
Ingpen by arrangement with the Orgreaves had brought some pianoforte duets. They were tied to his bicycle. He was known as an amateur of music. Edwin, bidding Ingpen not to move, ran out into the garden to get the music from the bicycle. Johnnie ran after him through the French window.