Miss Pendarth, unlike most of her neighbours, always kept her front door locked--you could not turn the handle and walk right into the house.
To-day she answered Betty's ring herself, and with a smile of welcome lighting up her rather grim face she drew the girl into the hall and kissed her affectionately.
"I was just starting to pay my first call on Mrs.Crofton.But I'm so glad.

Perhaps you'll be able to tell me something about her.

I hear she had supper with you the day she arrived!" As she spoke, she led the way into a little room off the hall.

"I've been trying to make out to what branch of the Croftons she belongs," she went on reflectively.

"There was a man called Cecil Crofton in my second brother's regiment a matter of forty years ago." "She looks quite young," said Betty doubtfully.
"Old enough to know better than to get herself talked about the first hour she arrived," observed Miss Pendarth grimly.
"I don't think she can have done that--" "Not only did she bring a man with her, a Captain Tremaine,--but just before he left they had some kind of quarrel which was overheard by two of the tradespeople who were calling to leave their cards." "How--how horrid," murmured Betty.