[With a sob.] I’ve just broken the news to poor Ada.

Dickie.

What news?

Penelope.

She didn’t know that Mrs. Mack was—no more.

Mrs. Fergusson.

[Trying to conceal her rage and mystification.] I certainly didn’t!

Penelope.

You ought to have let her know, Dickie. She would have liked to be—in at the death.

Dickie.