CHAPTER III.
The situation before Miss Cutter's return developed in other directions still, and when that event took place, at a few minutes past seven, these circumstances were, by the foot of the stair, between mistress and maid, the subject of some interrogative gasps and scared admissions.
Lady Wantridge had arrived shortly after the interloper, and wishing, as she said, to wait, had gone straight up in spite of being told he was lying down.
"She distinctly understood he was there ?" "Oh yes ma'am; I thought it right to mention." "And what did you call him ?" "Well, ma'am, I thought it unfair to YOU to call him anything but a gentleman." Mamie took it all in, though there might well be more of it than one could quickly embrace.

"But if she has had time," she flashed, "to find out he isn't one ?" "Oh ma'am, she had a quarter of an hour." "Then she isn't with him still ?" "No ma'am; she came down again at last.

She rang, and I saw her here, and she said she wouldn't wait longer." Miss Cutter darkly mused.

"Yet had already waited-- ?" "Quite a quarter." "Mercy on us!" She began to mount.

Before reaching the top however she had reflected that quite a quarter was long if Lady Wantridge had only been shocked.