Her hand was raised and her lips primmed in reproof. “Oh, dear, dear, dear! That was very bad,” she said. “Very bad indeed, Miss Treherne. If I had not come in when I did—oh, dear me! You were, I am afraid, about to commit a very grave imprudence.” Rachel had the oddest sense of guilt. Amusement contended with offence. Miss Silver came nearer. “Shall I tell you what you were about to say when I came into the room? You said, ‘Richard—’ and what you were going to say was, ‘I didn’t fall over the cliff—I was pushed.’ Is that not correct?” Rachel’s eyes sparkled a little. “Quite correct. And why shouldn’t I have said it?” Miss Silver shook her head. “Most, most imprudent. But there—we will say no more about it. Shall we sit down?” When they were seated she resumed with a good deal of briskness in her voice.
