第13部分(第2/8 頁)

　have　been。　You　didn't　hear　her　name？〃

〃It　was　mentioned；〃　Katherine　admitted；　〃but　I　can't　remember　it。　You　see；　I　was　rather　upset。〃

〃I　should　think　so；〃　said　Mr　Evans；　〃it　must　have　been　a　beastly　shock。〃

It　is　to　be　doubted　whether；　even　if　Katherine　had　remembered　the　name；　she　would　have　admitted　the　fact。　Lady　Tamplin's　remorseless　cross…examination　was　making　her　restive。　Lenox；　who　was　observant　in　her　own　way；　noticed　this；　and　offered　to　take　Katherine　upstairs　to　see　her　room。　She　left　her　there；　remarking　kindly　before　she　went；　〃You　mustn't　mind　Mother；　she　would　make　a　few　pennies'　profit　out　of　her　dying　grandmother　if　she　could。〃

Lenox　went　down　again　to　find　her　mother　and　her　stepfather　discussing　the　newer。

〃Presentable；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　〃quite　presentable。　Her　clothes　are　all　right。　That　grey　thing　is　the　same　model　that　Gladys　Cooper　wore　in　Palm　Trees　in　Egypt　…〃

〃Have　you　noticed　her　eyes　…　what？〃　interposed　Mr　Evans。

〃Never　mind　her　eyes；　Chubby；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin　tartly；　〃we　are　discussing　the　things　that　really　matter。〃

〃Oh；　quite；〃　said　Mr　Evans；　and　retired　into　his　shell。

〃She　doesn't　seem　to　me　very　…　malleable；〃　said　Lady　Tamplin；　rather　hesitating　to　choose　the　right　word。

〃She　has　all　the　instincts　of　a　lady；　as　they　say　in　books；〃　said　Lenox；　with　a　grin。

〃Narrow…minded；〃　murmured　Lady　Tamplin。　〃Inevitable　under　the　circumstances；　I　suppose。〃

〃I　expect　yo