Chapter Twenty-OneMiss Silver turned round from admiring the view. Her hand was raised and her lips primmed in reproof.
‘Oh, dear, dear, dear! That was very bad,’ she said. ‘Very bad indeed, Miss Treherne. If I had not come in when I did—oh, dear me! You were, I am afraid, about to commit a very grave imprudence.’
Rachel had the oddest sense of guilt. Amusement contended with offence.
Miss Silver came nearer.
‘Shall I tell you what you were about to say when I came into the room? You said, “Richard—” and what you were going to say was, “I didn’t fall over the cliff—I was pushed.” Is that not correct?’
Rachel’s eyes sparkled a little.
‘Quite correct. And why shouldn’t I have said it?’
Miss Silver shook her head.
‘Most, most imprudent. But there—we will say no more about it. Shall we
