“Does Your Honour consider that a responsive reply?” inquired Mr. Farr with mild interest.
“The Court has already warned the witness to keep strictly to the question. It repeats that warning. As for the reply, it may be stricken from the record.”
“I consider it an absolutely responsive reply,” cried Mr. Lambert with some heat. “Mr. Ives was explaining why Miss Page——”
“You may take your exception and put the question again, Mr. Lambert. The Court has ruled on the reply.”
“What caused the hysteria you speak of?” inquired Mr. Lambert through gritted teeth.
“The fact that Mrs. Ives had told her that her services were no longer required, and that she had better make her preparations to leave on Monday. Miss Page wished me to intervene in her behalf, as I had already done on two occasions.”
“Did you acquiesce?”
“On the contrary,” said Pat Ives—and at the tone of chilled steel in his voice the red-headed girl felt a flash of something like pity for her pet detestation, the flower-faced Miss Page—“I told her that in my opinion Sunday was a better day than Monday, and that I’d send Roberts to help with the packing.”
“Why was Miss Page so anxious to stay, Mr. Ives?”
“How should I know?” inquired Mr. Ives. “She probably realized that it was a very excellent job that she was losing.”