But, also, each thought the Prall suspicion justified, and each planned to keep a wary eye in that direction.
Next morning, after waiting till such an hour as he thought late enough, Gibbs went to see Miss Prall.
He found a visitor already there, and he was presented to Mrs Everett.
To his surprise, Miss Prall made the introduction as casually as if it had been a meeting of social acquaintances, and Gibbs felt a little awkward at being expected to join in a general conversation.
But he was alertly interested in meeting Mrs Everett, and especially in circumstances where he might hear or see some manifestations of the feud he had heard of.
“My friend, Mrs Everett, is about to move away, so you’re lucky to chance upon her here,” Miss Letitia said, in honey-sweet tones.
“As to your luck, I express no opinion,” said the other lady, “but as to moving away, I’ve not the slightest intention of such a thing.”
Mrs Everett was inclined to be fair, afraid of being fat and unwilling to admit being forty. She was pretty in a soft, faded way, and her voice, though low and pleasant, had a sharp tang to it, which, one felt sure, could increase at will.
“You said you would!” Miss Prall declared, “but I long ago learned to put no faith in your assertions.”
“You’re saying I lie?” asked Mrs Everett, and her voice was still placid.