"He's got a wife?"
"He has!"
"An' a baby?"
"Yes—and a baby." Ethel was not going to betray herself. She would just wait and see what course this creature was going to take with her.
Peg went on:
"Of course I've never seen the wife or the baby because he never seems to have them with him when he calls here. But I've often heard Alaric ask afther them."
"Well?" asked Ethel coldly.
"Is it usual for English husbands with babies to kiss other women's hands?" and Peg looked swiftly at her cousin.
Ethel checked an outburst and said quite calmly:
"It is a very old and a very respected custom."