"Oh, I suppose I married Paul, the mahogany sideboard, and the Billops!"
"Get a divorce from the Billops," suggested the doctor.
Pamela laughed a little bitterly. "I ought to hold my tongue, but Paul's so good-natured, if an Apache Indian wired he was coming to spend the night, Paul would drive down to meet him and help him unload his tomahawk."
"Well, Sidney's unloaded his tomahawk," said Dr. Macclesfield enigmatically.
Pamela glanced at him uneasily. She was not sure that she understood him but she was certain that all this dove-tailed into Lottie's previous hints about a scandal. "I believe Sidney's in love," she said irrelevantly.
"Oh, Lord!" ejaculated Dr. Macclesfield.
"Pamela says such foolish things," Mrs. Prynne drawled, with a little conscious laugh.
"I didn't mean with you, Lottie dear," Pamela replied sweetly, offering more sugar for her tea.
The old doctor twinkled. "There are compensations, Mrs. Prynne."
She reddened. "I'm sure I care nothing for Sidney!"