“Why, no. I— She must have gone to the train to meet you, then.”
“The train was hours late. Carlotta left early. Mabel said she’d see her at the depot. How long since you’ve seen Mabel?”
“Why, I don’t know. I can’t turn my mind on it right now. I have a business matter. Won’t you please go and sit down?”
Mrs. Goldring turned once more to look Bertha over. “Oh, yes,” she said, “I remember. You were signing a contract with a business executive, weren’t you, Everett? I’m so sorry. I hope we haven’t bothered you.”
“Not at all. Not at all. I’ll be right with you. Just make yourselves comfortable.”
Mrs. Goldring said to Carlotta, “Come on, dear,” and to Bertha Cool, smiling acidly, “And I trust we haven’t inconvenienced you, or interfered with your sales contract.”
Bertha said, “Not at all. I never let myself be inconvenienced by minor interruptions.”
Mrs. Goldring’s chin came up. She half turned, locked eyes for a moment with Bertha, thought better of it, and swept on into the private office.
Bertha said in a low voice, “You going to let her know anything about the settlement?”
Belder glanced with concern at the door which Carlotta had very pointedly failed to close. “No, no,” he said, in almost a whisper.