So instead of going on to the house--" I cut him short.Yes.That was Mrs.Connor of Telford Lodge.

He dodged round the car and, entering the garden path, handed the orange-coloured envelope to Betty.

She took it from him absent-mindedly, her heart and soul engaged in the battle with Mrs.Tufton.The boy stood patient for a second or two.
"Any answer, ma'am ?" She turned so that I could see her face in profile, and impatiently opened the envelope and glanced at the message.

Then she stiffened, seeming in a curious way to become many inches taller, and grew deadly white.

The paper dropped from her hand.