And in due course he let out something about Laughing Anne.
"'Laughing Anne,' says Mrs.Davidson with a start.

'What's that ?' "Ritchie plunged into circumlocution at once, but she very soon stopped him.

'Is that creature dead ?' she asks.
"'I believe so,' stammered Ritchie.

'Your husband says so.' "'But you don't know for certain ?' "'No! How could I, Mrs.Davidson!' "'That's all wanted to know,' says she, and goes out of the room.
"When Davidson came home she was ready to go for him, not with common voluble indignation, but as if trickling a stream of cold clear water down his back.

She talked of his base intrigue with a vile woman, of being made a fool of, of the insult to her dignity.
"Davidson begged her to listen to him and told her all the story, thinking that it would move a heart of stone.