“Look here, Clare,” said Herbert furiously, “I shall begin to throw things about in a minute.”
“Don’t get hysterical, Herbert,” said Clare calmly. “Especially as I have got some good news for you.”
As she spoke these words she looked across a Demonstration to him with a curious smile and added: “A big surprise, Herbert!”
“A surprise?” said Herbert with sarcasm. “Have you discovered another widow in distress?”
“Well, I have,” said Clare, “but it’s not that.”
Mrs. Heywood glanced from her son to her daughter-in-law, and seemed to imagine that she might be disturbing an intimate conversation.
“I will be back in a minute. I won’t disturb you two dears,” she said, as she left the room quietly.
“You won’t disturb us, mother,” said Clare.
But the old lady smiled and said, “I won’t be long.”
“Are you going to get arrested again?” asked Herbert. “Do you want me to bail you out? Because by the Lord, I won’t!”