"Quite proper of them. It was dreadful, dear. For them."
"And now, dear, I want you to tell me frankly—Do you really believe that creature was a man?"
"You should have heard the violin."
"I still more than half suspect, Jessie ——" Mrs Mendham leant forward as if to whisper.
Mrs Jehoram helped herself to cake. "I'm sure no woman could play the violin quite like I heard it played this morning."
"Of course, if you say so that settles the matter," said Mrs Mendham. Mrs Jehoram was the autocratic authority in Siddermorton upon all questions of art, music and belles-lettres. Her late husband had been a minor poet. Then Mrs Mendham added a judicial "Still—"
"Do you know," said Mrs Jehoram, "I'm half inclined to believe the dear Vicar's story."
"How good of you, Jessie," said Mrs Mendham.
"But really, I don't think he could have had any one in the Vicarage before that afternoon. I feel sure we should have heard of it. I don't see how a strange cat could come within four miles of Siddermorton without the report coming round to us. The people here gossip so...."
"I always distrust the Vicar," said Mrs Mendham. "I know him."