"Oh, sleeves; I feared they'd hardly be large enough. By the way, when is that inquest to be brought to an end?"
"And nothing has been decided in regard to your brother yet!"
"It is very strange," returned Mr. Lake--"strange there should be this contradiction about the lights. Each side is so positive."
"I am quite certain, sir, that Matthew would not say what was untrue, even to save himself; therefore, when he says it was the green light up, I know it was the green."
"Precisely the same thing that I tell everybody. I have unlimited faith in Cooper."
"And there's Colonel West to bear out what he says, you know, sir. The colonel would not say the green light was up, if it was not."
"No. But then, again, Oliver Jupp and the station people maintain it was the red," said Mr. Lake, remarking upon the fact that had puzzled him all along. "For my part, I think there was a little sleight of hand going on. Some conjurors must have been there in disguise. Now gentlemen and ladies, walk up; the performance is just going to begin. The celebrated Signor Confusiani has taken his place, and is entering on his mysteries. He transforms colours by the help of his magic wand In looking at the green, you perceive it change to red; in looking at the red, it at once passes into blue."
They all laughed, except Clara. She sat still as before, her eyes fixed on the fire.
"You see, sir, the worst of it is that Matthew is kept out of employment all this time," said Miss Cooper. "They have suspended him. He and his poor young wife are at their wits' end nearly, over it. Two months now, and not a shilling coming in."
"Yes, it is very bad," returned Mr. Lake, speaking seriously for once. "There's a baby too, is there not?"
"I give them what I can, sir; but I have my mother to keep."
"Ah," concluded Mr. Lake, abandoning the subject. "Have you been for a walk today, Clara?"
"You ought to take her, Robert; she scarcely ever goes out now. You might have come back earlier and done it. Lady Ellis did not have a walk today, failing you. Why did you not come sooner?"
"But--when _did_ you come?" suddenly resumed Mrs. Chester, after a pause of thought. "You must have come back in the afternoon. There's no train at this hour."