"I suppose you give them your earnings."
"I give them what I can, sir; but I have my mother to keep."
"Ah," concluded Mr. Lake, abandoning the subject. "Have you been for a walk today, Clara?"
"No."
"You ought to take her, Robert; she scarcely ever goes out now. You might have come back earlier and done it. Lady Ellis did not have a walk today, failing you. Why did you not come sooner?"
"Couldn't manage it, Mrs. Chester."
"But--when did you come?" suddenly resumed Mrs. Chester, after a pause of thought. "You must have come back in the afternoon. There's no train at this hour."
"Oh, they put on a special one for me."
"Don't be stupid," retorted Mrs. Chester. "You must have been back some time."
"Have it your own way, Penelope, and perhaps you'll live the longer."