"She can hurt my father, if her last threat is to be believed."
"Ah, but is it to be believed?" questioned the young man shrewdly.
"Yes it is. Lady Wyke is growing old, and, as you know, there is no fool like an old fool. She has fallen in love with you, and will move and earth to get you as her husband."
Edwin frowned. "That is quite true." Then he smiled. "She has asked me to afternoon tea."
"Oh, what impertinence! You won't go."
"I leave the decision to you, Claudia," said Craver, drily.
"What does she wish to see you about?"
"I understand from her that she will explain when I call, not before." There was silence for quite a minute. "You had better go, Edwin," said, Claudia, becoming more her reasonable resolute self, and speaking decisively. "I am quite sure that Lady Wyke suspects my father with something in connection with the death of her husband. She may even believe that he is guilty. Perhaps I was foolish not to stay on the cliffs and hear what she had to say. But I was in a rage. I only wanted to hurt her, and did so by laughing."
"You cut off your nose to spite your face." said Edwin, with a shrug. "That is not like you, Claudia."
"No, it isn't," she answered penitently. "Usually I am calm and self-possessed when there is trouble. But Lady Wyke makes me so angry with her insolence that I lose control of myself. How has she persecuted you, Edwin."