“That’s very easy for you to say, but you must be aware that I shall have to give some sort of explanation,” said Mrs Leslie, with a sense of affront underlying her real dismay.
“No, I am not aware. To whom?” said Fenwick, facing round fiercely. “If the fools want to talk, let them!”
“Of course they will talk.”
“As I say—let them!”
Mrs Leslie drew herself up.
“You might be more civil, Arthur, considering you have brought it on yourself. Pray do you suppose the situation will be agreeable for us?”
“Hang it all!” he burst out. “Say what you like, then! The plain truth is, as any one might see, that we’re unsuited, and it’s come home to her at last. There it lies in a nutshell, and you may make what you can of it.”
“I saw it long ago.”
“I’ll wager you did!”
“And,” went on his sister coldly, “I can’t wonder at the poor child discovering it too. You forced it upon her pretty clearly, you and Helen Arbuthnot.”