“It’s Miss Vernon, ma’am.”
“Oh,” said Clare. She glanced at her husband for a moment and theft said:
“Well, bring her in, Mollie.”
“Yes, ma’am,” said Mollie, going out of the room again.
“Great Scott!” exclaimed Herbert, in a sudden excitement. “It’s that woman who flings her beastly orange-peel into my window boxes. Clare, I strongly object——”
Clare answered him a little passionately: “Oh, I am tired of your objections.”
“She’s not a respectable character,” said Herbert.
“Hush, Herbert!” said Mrs. Heywood.
As she spoke the girl who had been called Madge Vernon entered the room.
She was a bright, cheery girl, dressed plainly in a tailor-made coat and skirt, with brown boots.