"Oh, what a pity! She's just gone out!" said Miss Trimble. "I'm afraid you'll have to put up with poor old me!"
She laughed again, and her glasses fell off. "Twice," said Bets, under her breath.
"Do you know where Luke is?" said Pip, thinking it would be a good idea to go and find him if he was anywhere about.
"No, I don't," said Miss Trimble. "He didn't turn up today. Tupping was very annoyed about it."
"Did Lady Candling give Luke the sack, Miss Tremble?" asked Bets.
"My name is Trimble, not Tremble," said Miss Trimble.
"No, Lady Candling didn't give him notice. At least, I don't think so. Wasn't it a pity about that lovely cat? I saw her at four o'clock, you know."
"Yes, you were with my mother," said Pip. "I suppose you didn't see anyone near the cat-house except Luke?"
"No, nobody," said Miss Trimble. "Luke was there, of course, digging hard all the time. Your mother and I were only there a minute or two, then I had to hurry back to the tea-table, because there was a lot for me to do there. I didn't have a moment to myself until after the party."
"Then you couldn't have stolen the cat!" said Pip, with a laugh. Miss Trimble jumped, and her glasses fell off. Her nose went even redder than it already was.