This chat would have been restful and enjoyable but for a most unfortunate remark that fell from the elder lady, a perfectly innocent mention of something her husband had told her, but, secretly, so disturbing Mrs.Mumford that, after hearing it, she got away as soon as possible, and walked quickly home with dark countenance.
It was ten o'clock; Louise had not yet returned, but might do so any moment.

Wishing to be sure of privacy in a conversation with her husband, Emmeline summoned him from his book to the bedroom.
'Well, what has happened now ?' exclaimed Mumford.

'If this kind of thing goes on much longer I shall feel inclined to take a lodging in town.' 'I have heard something very strange.

I can hardly believe it; there must have been a mistake.' 'What is it?
Really, one's nerves--' 'Is it true that, on Thursday evening, you and Miss Derrick were seen talking together at the station?
Thursday: the day she went off and came back again after dinner.' Mumford would gladly have got out of this scrape at any expense of mendacity, but he saw at once how useless such an attempt would prove.

Exasperated by the result of his indiscretion, and resenting, as all men do, the undignified necessity of defending himself, he flew into a rage.