Mrs Darwen glanced from one to the other and glanced at the maid. Then she smiled.
The conversation went on in spasmodic jerks till the maid left the room.
"Don't you think I've got a nice-looking maid, Mr Carstairs?"
"I do. In fact she's the girl I was telling you about."
"I thought so, the fates arrange these things. She's lovely; I thought when I was engaging her that it was a good job Charlie was shortly going to get married."
"You're mistaken, mater. Charlie is not shortly going to get married."
"Not! What do you mean?"
"It's broken off."
"You haven't jilted her, Charlie?"
"No, dear mater, she's jilted me."