Jinny. How do you mean "corner"? How did you happen to come home like this?
Mrs. Cullingham. Ruth suddenly got a cable—she didn't tell me from whom—but she said she must go home at once.
Jinny. But her mother's never been better!
Mrs. Cullingham. [Carelessly.] The cable wasn't from her mother.
Jinny. Oh, then, you know who it was from? [No answer.] Oh, I see now why you thought I ought to know about it; the cable was from Jack, wasn't it?
Mrs. Cullingham. [Relieved.] Yes.
Jinny. Oh, it was!
Mrs. Cullingham. I looked at it when she was out of the room; of course, it was sort of by accident— [Very much embarrassed.] —that is, I just happened to see—O dear, there! You know what I mean; it was dreadful of me, but I couldn't help it.
Jinny. [In a strained voice.] Jack and Ruth are very good friends and he looks after some of her affairs. You know having no man in the family complicates things.
Peter. Oh! I say!