He walked into the small passage and put his hand on the latch. Prudence, now quite certain of his sanity, felt sorely reluctant to let such impudence go unpunished.
"Are you going?" she inquired.
"I think I'd better," said Mr. Catesby, gravely. "Dear mother—"
"You're afraid," said the girl, calmly.
Mr. Catesby coloured and his buoyancy failed him. He felt a little bit cheap.
"You are brave enough with two women," continued the girl, disdainfully; "but you had better go if you're afraid."
Mr. Catesby regarded the temptress uneasily. "Would you like me to stay?" he asked.
"I?" said Miss Truefitt, tossing her head. "No, I don't want you. Besides, you're frightened."
Mr. Catesby turned, and with a firm step made his way back to the room; Prudence, with a half-smile, took a chair near the door and regarded her prisoner with unholy triumph.
"I shouldn't like to be in your shoes," she said, agreeably; "mother has gone for a policeman."