"Upon second thoughts," observed Mrs. Werner, "I shall not go on to Walthamstow to-day. I will stay and carry you off with me. You can give me some luncheon and let the horses have a feed, and that will be a far pleasanter arrangement in every way."
Dolly laughed and summoned Esther. "Mrs. Werner will lunch here," she said; "and find Mr. Meadows and send him to me."
"What do you want with that creature," asked her friend, and Dolly answered, "You shall hear."
Mr. Meadows entered the room and bowed solemnly to its occupants.
"You wanted me, ma'am," he said, standing just inside the doorway and addressing Mrs. Mortomley.
"Yes. I wished to know if you think Mr. Swanland can answer any questions that my husband's creditors may put to him, if Mrs. Werner's horses have a feed of corn—because if not, I must ask her coachman to put up at the public-house."
Mr. Meadows turned white with rage at this cool question and the sneer which accompanied it.
"That woman is a fiend," he thought, "and will trouble some of our people yet, and serve them right too;" but he answered quietly enough,
"I am certain, madam, that Mr. Swanland would wish every consideration to be paid to you and your friends, and I can take it upon myself to tell this lady's coachman to put up his horses here."