But what really shocked her was that Miss Pendarth should listen to that sort of gossip.
"It was horrid and absurd too, for the man had turned the key in the lock of the sitting-room, and it stuck for a minute or two when one of them tried to unlock the door in answer to the maid's knock!" "What an extraordinary thing!" "I could hardly believe the story, but now that I've seen Mrs.Crofton, I'm not so very much surprised!" "Then you have seen her ?" Betty smiled.
"I've just had a glimpse of her," admitted Miss Pendarth grudgingly, "as she came out of church, a day or two ago, with your sister Dolly." "She's extraordinarily pretty, isn't she ?" "Too theatrical for my taste.

But still, yes, I suppose one must admit that she will prove a very formidable rival to most of our young ladies.
I'm told she's a war widow--and she certainly behaves as if she were." "I don't think it's fair to say that!" Betty crimsoned.

She felt a close kinship to all those women who had lost someone they loved in the War.
"You mean not fair to the war widows ?" "Yes, that is what I do mean.

Only a few of them behave horridly--" There was a pause.

Betty was trying to bring herself to introduce the subject which filled her mind.