The girl's answer took me by surprise.
"I owe you no explanation, and I shall give you none."
"You are mistaken. You owe me a very frank explanation. I promise you you shall give me one before I've done with you."
"I wish and intend to have nothing whatever to say to you. Be so good as to let me pass."
The girl's defiant attitude took Mrs. Riddle slightly aback. I was delighted. Whatever she had been crying for, it had evidently not been for want of pluck. It was plain that she had pluck enough for fifty. It did me good to see her.
"Take my advice, young woman, and do not attempt that sort of thing with me--unless, that is, you wish me to give you a short shrift, and send at once for the police."
"The police? For me? You are mad!"
For a moment Mrs. Riddle looked a trifle mad. She went quite green. She took the girl by the shoulder roughly. I saw that the little thing was wincing beneath the pressure of her hand. That was more than I could stand.
"Excuse me, Mrs. Riddle, but--if you would not mind!"
Whether she did or did not mind, I did not wait for her to tell me. I removed her hand, with as much politeness as was possible, from where she had placed it. She looked at me, not nicely.