"And I must say you are very inquisitive."
"Pray do not let us quarrel about such a thing," said Salome coldly. "You are welcome to make a mystery of it, if you please, only I must say it does not look well that you are ashamed to say with whom you have been taking tea."
And Salome quitted the room.
"I am not ashamed!" exclaimed Juliet, suddenly springing from the bed and darting after her. "And you know it is not my way to make mysteries of things. Since you are so consumed by curiosity, I will inform you that I went home with Flossie Chalcombe and had tea with her. There, now; are you satisfied?" And Juliet went back to her room flushed and triumphant.
A few minutes later, Salome, in her close-fitting, deaconess-like bonnet, with her waterproof cloak neatly folded on her arm, one or two dark clouds being apparent in the evening sky, came into the room where Hannah and her mother were sitting. Her face was rather more highly coloured than usual; but it was in a quiet, composed manner that she said—
"You were right about Juliet, Hannah. She has been taking tea with the Chalcombes."
"You do not mean that?" exclaimed Hannah. "But I am not surprised," she added the next moment.
Mrs. Tracy turned round with a startled air.
"Are you sure of what you are saying, Salome?" she asked, with unusual incisiveness.
"Quite sure, mother. Juliet told me so herself."