No explosion could have brought Mrs. Milo to her feet with more celerity. While Balcome stumbled backward, the red of his countenance taking on an apoplectic greenish tinge.
But almost instantly the blue eyes lighted with a smile. She put back her bonneted head to regard Clare from under lowered lashes. "Ah!" she sighed in relief. No longer was there need to fear publicity for her son; here was a situation that insured against it.
"Yes, you feel better, don't you?" commiserated Clare, sarcastically. "--Tuh!"
Balcome was blinking harder than ever. "Well, I'll be damned!" he vowed under his breath.
By now Mrs. Milo's smile had grown into a clear, joyous, well-modulated laugh. "Oh, ha! ha! ha! ha! ha!--Wife!" she exulted. "That is most interesting! Hm!--And it changes everything, doesn't it?"--this to no one in particular. She reseated herself, studying the floor thoughtfully, finding her glasses meanwhile, and tapping a finger with them gently. "Hm!--Ah!--Yes."
Balcome replied to her, and with no idea of sparing her feelings. "Yes, that puts quite a different face on things," he agreed; "--on what Wallace has done. The home of his best friend!"
"Let's not talk about it!" begged Farvel.
"All right, Mr. Farvel," answered Balcome, soothingly. "But my Hattie's happiness--that's what I'm thinking of." He came nearer to Clare now. "And before I go," he said to her, "I'd like to ask you one more question."
"Oh, you would!" she retorted ironically. "Well, I'm not going to answer any more questions. I've got a lot to do. And I want to be let alone." She made as if to go.
She flushed angrily. "Well? Well? Well?" she demanded, her voice rising.
"We shan't trouble you again," assured the clergyman, more kindly.
"Then spit it out!" she cried to Balcome. "I want to know," began Balcome, eyeing her keenly, "just whose child that is?"
It was Farvel's turn to gasp. "Child?" he echoed.
Mrs. Milo straightened against the green velours. "A child?" she said in turn.
"You know who I mean," declared Balcome, not taking his look from Clare. "That little girl who called you Auntie."
She tried to speak naturally. "That--that--she's a friend's child--a friend's child from up-State."
"You told us she was your sister's child," persisted Balcome.