Think carefully, for your answer may have illimitable consequences! After your arrival at Harrel last night, did Joan return here immediately in your car ?" Sir Chichester had never been so impressive.

Miranda was frightened and changed colour.

But she had given her promise and she kept it pluckily.
"No," she answered.
Jenny Prask permitted herself to smile her disbelief.

Sir Chichester was triumphant.
"Well, there's an end of your pretty story, my girl," he said.

"You wanted to do a little mischief, did you?
Well, you haven't! And here, by a stroke of luck, is Joan herself to settle the matter." He sat down and once more he drew his sheet of foolscap in front of him.
He could write his clear succinct statement now, write it in "nervous prose." He was not quite sure what nervous prose actually was, but he knew it to be the correct medium to use on these occasions.
Meanwhile Joan ran down the stairs.
"I am afraid I have been very lazy this morning," she cried.