I felt relieved. Miss Battersby is never formidable.
“She won’t matter,” I said. “Lalage and Hilda will put her to bed and keep her there. That’s what they did with her on the way to Lisbon.”
“And Miss Pettigrew,” said the Canon.
“How on earth does she come to be mixed up in it?”
“Your mother telegraphed to her and begged her to come down with us to see what she could do. She’s supposed to have some influence with Lalage.”
“What sort of woman is she? I don’t know her personally. Lalage says she’s the kind of person that you hate and yet can’t help rather loving, although you’re afraid of her. Is that your impression of her?”
“She has a strongly developed sense of humour,” said the Canon, “and I’m afraid she’s rather determined.”
“What do you expect to do?”
“I don’t myself expect to do anything,” said the Canon.
“I meant to say what is the ostensible object of the expedition?”