She trembled as she faced the Colonel. "Very well, then," said she, "as there is no one to help me I must protect myself. I shall not sleep another night under the same roof as Mrs. Tailleur."
The three winced as if the name had been a blow struck at them. The Colonel's silver eyebrows rose bristling. Mrs. Hankin got up and went out of the room. Mrs. Jurd bent her head over her knitting. None of them looked at Miss Keating; not even the Colonel, as he spoke.
"If you feel like that about it," said he, "there is nothing more to be said."
He rose and followed his wife.
Upstairs, when their bedroom door had closed on them, he reproved her very seriously for her indiscretion.
"You asked me," said he, "what I thought of Mrs. Tailleur, and I told you; but I never said you were to go and hand it on. What on earth have you been saying to those women?"
"I didn't say anything to Miss Keating."
"No, but you must have done to Mrs. What's-her-name?"
"Not very much. I don't like talking about unpleasant subjects, as you know."
"Well, somebody's been talking about them. I shouldn't wonder, after this, if poor Mrs. Tailleur's room were wanted to-morrow."