'I suppose you know Mr. Holwood?' queried she.
'No, miss, I have never seen him.'
'But you have heard of him?'
'One has, of course, taken it for granted, if there is a Miss Holwood, that there is a Mr. Holwood also.'
Jack was aware that he was being pumped. It was done clumsily. He was conscious that, if pumped, it would be well for Winefred's sake that he should not reveal all that he knew.
Sylvana knitted her brows.
'You must have heard Mrs. Marley talked about?'
'Really, miss,' said Jack, 'at our works the men talk mostly of politics, and leave scandal for women.'
'Sylvana,' said Mrs. Tomkin-Jones severely, 'I cannot possibly compose a letter whilst conversation is going on behind my back. I have made a blotch of this letter and shall have to write it again. Just listen and say if this will do. "Dear Mrs. Jose,—Ten thousand thanks for those splendid spring chickens you have been so good as to send me. I think that I have never seen any before so plump, so delicate and toothsome."'
'But, ma'am,' insisted Jack, 'the hamper has not yet been opened.'