“She doesn’t know any more about that murder than we do,” bluntly.
“I wasn’t referring to the murder—her morals.”
“I don’t question them, either.”
“You are very charitable, Delia. She lived alone with Mormon Joe, didn’t she?”
A frost seemed suddenly to have touched the perfect friendship between these kindred spirits.
“I’m merely just,” Mrs. Toomey retorted, though her heart was beating furiously. “All we know is hearsay.”
With the restraint and sweetness of one who knows her power, Mrs. Pantin replied:
“I’m sure it’s lovely of you to defend her.”
“Not at all—I like her personally,” Mrs. Toomey answered stoutly.
It was time to lay on the lash; Mrs. Pantin saw that clearly.