"Wardour is missing from the huts." Quickly as she had spoken, she had still spoken too late.

Clara had noticed the momentary hesitation on the part of the two officers.

She turned to Steventon.
"I trust to your honor," she said, quietly.

"Am I right, or wrong, in believing that Mrs.Crayford is mistaken ?" She had addressed herself to the right man of the two.

Steventon had no wife present to exercise authority over him.