“But what?” asked Mrs. Temple, sharply.
“By his own account he wrote to the unfortunate girl to ask her to meet him on the ridge above Fern Dene on the night of her death, and he also said there had been some talk of marriage between them.”
“Of marriage!” repeated Mrs. Temple, incredulously, and at the same moment Mrs. Layton emitted a dismal groan.
“He wanted to be out of it; fling her off, I understand,” continued John.
“I should think so,” said Mrs. Temple, scornfully. “A girl of that class!”
“He should have remembered that when he made love to her,” remarked John, coolly.
“The depravity of the girl, to think of such a thing!” cried Mrs. Layton.
“Do you mean of marriage?” smiled John.
“I mean of marriage with a young man in a perfectly different position of life to her own, Mr. Temple,” replied Mrs. Layton, with injured dignity.
“Yet we have heard of such things,” said John.