"My husband," explained the woman, perceiving she was not understood. "He's the gardener."
"Oh, I saw him," said Miss Blake. "But he looks quite too old and infirm to do much."
"He's not as old as he looks--and he has a good deal of work in him still. Of course when a man gets rheumatics, he can't be as active as before."
"How very dull your mistress must be!"
"Not at all, ma'am. She has her birds, and flowers, and music, and work. And the garden she's very fond of: she'll spend hours in the greenhouse over the plants."
"Mrs. Grey, I think I have heard her called."
"Yes, Mrs. Grey."
"Well now--where's her husband?"
"She's not got a hus-- At least,--her husband's not here."
The first part of the answer was begun in a fierce, resentful tone: but at the break the woman seemed to recollect herself, and calmed down. Miss Blake was silently observant, pondering all in her inquisitive mind.