"My aunt has just told me that Mrs. Riddle arrived in England yesterday. She has written this morning to say that she is coming on at once."
"But I don't understand!" She really looked as if she did not understand. "I thought--I was told that--she was going to remain abroad for months."
"It seems that she has changed her mind."
"Changed her mind!" Miss Riddle stared at me as if she thought that such a thing was inconceivable. "When did you say that she was coming?"
"Aunt tells me that she is expecting her every moment."
"Mr. Kempster, what am I to do?"
She appealed to me, with outstretched hands, actually trembling, as it seemed to me with passion, as if I knew--or understood her either.
"I am afraid, May, that Mrs. Riddle has not been to you all that a mother ought to be. I have heard something of this before. But I did not think that it was so bad as it seems."
"You have heard? You have heard! My good sir, you don't know what you're talking about in the very least. There is one thing very certain, that I must go at once."
"Go? May!"