Inspired perhaps by the fruit cup, Eva had quoted the injured lady verbatim, in both adjective and noun, to an audience that gasped.
Mrs. Ridgegay, quite unable to adjust her mind to the relative value of words, protested in a shocked voice, that Mrs. Claire had said nothing like that to the vicar.
But Eva would have none of her. She insisted that, judged from their respective environments, the two criticisms were comparative equivalents.
Then, as Eva was apparently about to enlarge on the topic and fearing the worst, Edwin Muskat broke in. "Did you read that account of an appalling fracas in the city last night, Tydvil?"
Welcoming the diversion, Amy, who by this time was wondering what had happened to her party, seconded his endeavours by saying that she was afraid Mr. Senior would re
