324 The Discomfiture of Mrs. Trimmings 



' She might have suggested it — a friend like her ! ' 

 Ethel went on, resolved to maintain her own opinion 

 and keep up her affectionate little grievance with her 

 friend. 



A vaguely unpleasant sensation began to steal over 

 Mrs. Trimmings — a dim suspicion crept into her mind. 



' Has Mrs. hj ghte been staying at Eastcliff '? ' she 

 asked. 



' Yes, she has been for nearly a week at the hotel,' 

 Lady Covertside answered. 



' It's — it's strange I did not see her,' Mrs. Trim- 

 mings replied, for the reason that she did not see what 

 other reply was possible at the moment. How was she 

 to get out of this hobble ? ' I hope she liked it,' she 

 added. 



' Yes, she liked the place very much, though she had 

 an unpleasant experience one day. One of the lodging- 

 house keepers was very rude to her,' Lady Covertside 

 replied. ' I can't think which house Lucy can mean,' 

 she continued ; and then, in explanation to Mrs. Trim- 

 mings, ' She was sitting under the shelter of a wall, out 

 of the wind — her little child, a dear little thing, has been 

 ill for a long while ; they despaired of its life at one time, 

 but it is growing quite strong, though it still needs much 

 care — when a vulgar woman went up to her and very 

 rudely told her to go away. I can't think who the 

 woman could be — it's so unlike the Eastcliff people — or 

 what green she can be speaking of.' 



It had come ! Mrs. Trimmings gasped. 



' AMiat I can't make out ! ' Lady Hilda indignantly 

 exclaimed, ' is how any woman could be hrute enough to 

 drive a delicate little child away from a shelter into the 

 bitter east wind ! What can such a woman be made of '? 



