"That is the amount," Borrowdean admitted. "I trust that you do not consider my interference in any way officious, Mannering. I thought it best to settle the claims of perfect strangers against Miss Mannering."
"May I ask," Mannering continued, "in whose house my niece was permitted to lose this sum?"
"It was at the Bristows'," Clara answered.
"And under whose chaperonage were you?" Mannering asked.
"Lady Bristow's! She called for me here, and took me down last Friday."
"Are these people who are generally accounted respectable?" Mannering asked.
"I don't think that Bristow is much better or worse than half of our country houses," Borrowdean answered. "People who are at all in the swim must have excitement nowadays, you know. Bristow himself isn't very popular, but people go to the house."
Mannering made no further remark.
"If you will come into the study, Borrowdean," he said, "I will settle this matter with you."
Borrowdean hesitated.