Mrs. Darling had heard of the meeting with Honour on the stairs, and knew as much of the scene as though she had been present. She passed to another topic.
"Then it was of Miss Beauclerc you spoke, Charlotte?"
"It was of Miss Beauclerc. I want to know what she stops here for."
The low, impressive whisper in which this was spoken, astonished Mrs. Darling. What had Charlotte got in her head now?
"My dear, it cannot matter to you whether she stays here or whether she goes home."
"But it does matter: it matters very much. She is staying as a spy upon me."
"A spy? Charlotte!"
"She is. She is doing what she can to turn Sir Isaac against me."
"Oh, Charlotte! Indeed you are mistaken. I am quite sure she is doing nothing of the sort."
"I tell you yes. Look there!"