MRS. BRIGGS (in a shaking voice)
Nothing! Nothing at all, Jessie. Why should you think anything’s the matter?
JESSIE
Why, you’re all upset!
MRS. BRIGGS (trying hard to seem lightly amused, and failing)
Not at all—not at all! I was just sitting here a moment with Mr. Ingoldsby, chatting over old times and—and then we decided to leave. We decided to leave—that’s all. I—I’m—(Suddenly she starts, and with an incoherent exclamation looks behind her. Then she faces Jessie and, with a painful effort to smile, completes her sentence.) I’m all right.
JESSIE
Yes, you seem so. Mr. Ingoldsby, will you kindly tell me what you’ve been saying to my mother to upset her so?
MRS. BRIGGS
But I’m not—