"As you like, dear, as you like," muttered Mrs. Agar, apparently abandoning the argument, whereas in reality she had not yet begun it.
"How do you do, dear Mrs. Martin?" she went on in the same breath, bowing and smiling to a lady who passed them at that moment.
"Of course," she said, returning in a final way to the question after a few moments' silence, "of course I do not believe all I hear; in fact, I contradict a good deal. But I have been told that gossips talked about you a good deal last year, at the time of Jem's death. I think it only fair that you should know."
"Thank you," said Dora curtly.
"Of course, dear, I didn't believe anything about it."
"Thank you," said Dora again.
"I should have been sorry to do so."
Then Dora turned upon her suddenly.
"What do you mean, Aunt A
