'He tried to hit me.'
'Tried ... Brenda?'
'Well ... he just reached me.'
'And ... Theo?' asked Mrs. Wylie. 'What did Theo do?'
There was a short pause, during which both ladies attended to their cups with an unnatural interest.
'I have never seen him like that before,' murmured the girl at length. 'I did not know that men were ever like that. It was ... rather terrible ... almost suggestive of some wild animal. He knocked him down and ... and kicked him round the room like a dog!'
'My poor darling,' whispered Mrs. Wylie. 'I ought never to have left you here alone. We might have guessed that that man Huston would be home soon. Did he hurt you, Brenda?'
'No; he frightened me a little, that was all.'
'I am very glad you had Theo!' Mrs. Wylie purposely turned away as she said these words.
Brenda sipped her tea, and made no reply.