"My poor girls! They are too shocked to say a word about it. I was telling dear Lady Ham———"
"Quite proper of them. It was dreadful, dear. For them."
"And now, dear, I want you to tell me frankly—Do you really believe that creature was a man?"
"You should have heard the violin."
"I still more than half suspect, Jessie———" Mrs. Mendham leant forward as if to whisper.
Mrs. Jehoram helped herself to cake. "I'm sure no woman could play the violin quite like I heard it played this morning."
"Of course, if you say so that settles the matter," said Mrs. Mendham. Mrs. Jehoram was the autocratic authority in Siddermorton upon all questions of art, music and belles-lettres. Her late husband had been a minor poet. Then Mrs. Mendham added a judicial "Still———"
"Do you know," said Mrs. Jehoram, "I'm half inclined to believe the dear Vicar's story."
"How good of you, Jessie," said Mrs. Mendham.
