Majendie was late that afternoon, and Anne had an hour alone with Edith. She had made up her mind to speak seriously to her sister-in-law on the subject of Mr. Gorst, and she chose this admirable opportunity.
"Edith," said she with the abruptness of extreme embarrassment, "did you know that Lady Cayley had come back?"
"Come back?"
"She's here, living in Scale."
There was a pause before Edith answered. Anne judged from the quiet of her manner that this was not the first time that she had heard of the return.
"Well, dear, after all, if she is, what does it matter? She must live somewhere."
"I should have thought that for her own sake it was a pity to have chosen a town where she was so well known."
"Oh well, that's her own affair. I suppose she argues that most people here know the worst; and that's always a comfort."
"Oh, for all they appear to care—" Her face became tragic, and she lost her unnatural control. "I can't understand it. I never saw such people. She's received as if nothing had happened."
"By her own people. It's decent of them not to cast her off."