“Well, then, what in the world did you tell ’em for?”
“Why, to pass the time, I suppose,” Bella said, a little offended. “Cousin Ethel dropped in for a while this afternoon and the whole thing was so extraordinary I just sketched it to her. What are you making such a fuss about?”
“I’m not,” he protested feebly. “But even if the thing’s true, we don’t want to get the name of people that gossip about their——”
“Oh, my!” she sighed impatiently. “I’ve told you Cousin Ethel hasn’t the slightest personal interest in these people, and besides she’ll never repeat what I told her.”
“Well, if she doesn’t, it’ll be the first time!”
“Will, please!”
“Golly, I hope it won’t get back to the Sullenders!”
“Such horrible people as that, what difference would it make?” Bella demanded. “And how could it get back? Cousin Ethel doesn’t move in Sullender circles. Not precisely!”
“No, but her close friend, Mrs. Howard Peebles, is the aunt of Mrs. Frank Deem and Frank Deem is Sullender’s business partner.”
“Oh, a Realtor, is he?” Bella said icily.