"An actress!" she exclaimed.
She switched her skirts on one side, with the apparent intention of preventing their coming into contact with iniquity. Miss Hardy paid no heed.
"May Riddle is a very dear friend of mine."
"I don't believe it," cried Mrs. Riddle, with what, to say the least of it, was perfect frankness. Still Miss Hardy paid no heed.
"It is the dearest wish of her life to become an actress."
"It's a lie!"
This time Miss Hardy did pay heed. She faced the frankly speaking lady.
"It is no lie, as you are quite aware. You know very well that, ever since she was a teeny weeny child, it has been her continual dream."
"It was nothing but a childish craze."
Miss Hardy shrugged her shoulders.